10 Best Golf Documentaries

Best Golf Documentaries in 2023

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A Brief History of the Mockumentary: Comedy Improvisation at Its Best

Documentaries are fine, but I love mockumentaries. If you love them too, take a look at some of the best that created the art form.

A favorite form of satire is the mockumentary. The very name tells us we're in for something entirely different - as the serious documentary is transformed into a laugh fest of epic proportions. Mockumentaries as a rule tend to be slower paced, even a bit intellectual in their approach at humor, but laughs found in the better ones can be real knee slappers.

The Rutles (1978)

From the pen of British comedian Eric Idle comes one of the earliest examples of long form mockumentary.

Also entitled "All You Need Is Cash", The Rutles are a British pop band composed of young mop haired singers who cause girls to go crazy everywhere they play. Sounds familiar right? Even the silly name sounds like The Beatles. Saturday Night Live alums join Idle in on the musical fun, including John Belushi, Dan Akroyd, Gilda Radner and Bill Murray. Idle is also one of the members of the hugely popular British comedy group Monty Python. Parody songs included: Yellow Submarine Sandwich and Cheese And Onions.

This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

This is perhaps the most famous and beloved mockumentary of them all. Directed by Rob Reiner, this behind the scenes look at a fictional hard rock band is as hilarious as it is innovative.

Where The Rutles were the forerunners of the musical mockumentary, This Is Spinal Tap ran with it in such a successful way, the fictional group transformed into a band, which actually performed in venues around the world. Michael McKeon, Harry Shearer (The Simpsons) and screenwriter Christopher Guest are still looked upon as the most popular fake hard rock band in history and that alone makes This Is Spinal Tap a special bit of satire indeed.

Waiting For Guffman (1996)

Ever acted in community theater? If so, this Christopher Guest flick will bring back memories, good or bad, but definitely funny.

Guest took what he learned from This Is Spinal Tap to create the world of Corky St. Clair a passionate theater director who whips a motley crew of small town thespians in shape for a small town's founding celebration. The fictional town of Blaine is the "stool capitol of the world" - footstool that is and so Corky's wacky show revolves around how footstools put Blaine on the map - at least somewhat. Eugene Levy co-stars and co-wrote along with comic heavyweights like Catherine O'Hara and Fred Willard as a musical theater couple from hell. Parker Posey steals the show as a Dairy Queen worker seeking to cast off the shackles of dessert serving to pursue her dream treading the boards in community theater.

Best In Show (2000)

Dog shows are fun to watch on TV, but entering one is a lot of work. Best In Show definitely captures the intense canine struggle for fame and fortune.

Christopher Guest comes back writing and directing his regular stable of actors like Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara and the always memorable Parker Posey as they all vie for the Mayflower Dog Show's top award. This is a great fun road trip of a movie combined with a contest to root for your favorites at the finale. Guest plays a backwoods country type whose love of his slobbering bloodhound is only matched by his odd preoccupation with nuts. Trust me, after you watch the movie, you'll know what that all means.

A Mighty Wind (2003)

Folk music may not be in vogue anymore, but you'd never know it talking to the fans lining up for An Ode To Irving, a reunion show for folk music groups on PBN.

The zany formula Christopher Guest concocted and perfected in his other mockumentaries is well used here and most of the familiar faces are back to join in on the fun. Eugene Levy, also co-writing and Catherine O'Hara play once romantic, musical duo Mitch amp; Mickey, the core folk act to perform with The Folksmen and The New Main Street Singers. Harry Shearer, Michael McKeon and Guest comprise The Folksmen as a kind of folksy aging Spinal Tap. With rousing songs like Old Joe's Place, A Mighty Wind, Never Did No Wanderin and A Kiss At The End Of The Rainbow, the musical performances are always amusing, but also incredibly polished and fun.

Walk Hard: Dewey Cox Story (2020)

A country music mockumentary in the vein of This Is Spinal Tap amp; A Mighty Wind, John C Reilly plays the title role as a trouble, but talented country music star.

Judd Apatow (Superbad, Knocked Up) produced this Walk The Line parody where Dewey is a womanizing, hard drinking, drugging country music diva ala Johnny Cash. The box office wasn't stellar on this one, but it's already nurturing a real cult fan base of its own.