Review of A Prairie Home Companion (2006) by Maria N — 01 Jan 2008

"Every show is your last show. That's my philosophy." - Garrison Keillor.

This is one of those films where you are either going to like it or hate it. It is imperative for liking this movie, that you truly understand and appreciate the art of dry humor. Garrison Keillor can be one of the funniest guys out there, if you really appreciate his brand of humor. EXAMPLE -- Two penguins are standing on an ice floe. The first penguin says, you look like you're wearing a tuxedo. The second penguin says, what makes you think I'm not? If you didn't find that humorous or clever, chances are you will not appreciate this movie. I think most people will not like this movie, but for those who do, it can be thoroughly enjoyable.

This tells the story of an old-fashioned live Saturday Night Radio Variety show hosted by G.K. (Garrison Keillor). After 30-something years on the air, a corporate axe-man (Tommy Lee Jones) has decided to pull the plug and the show's performers including a pair of Christian contemporary singing sisters (Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin), two crude and ignorant cowboys (Woody Harrelson and John C. Reilly), a sound-effects man (Tom Keith) and an elderly folk performer (L.Q. Jones) are trying to deal with being cancelled. On their last broadcast, the cast is visited by a wacky Kramer-like security guard who thinks he is James Cagney (Kevin Kline) and an angel (Virginia Madsen) who comes to comfort the old Folk performers and claim the life of one of them.

Robert Altman's anything but mainstream musical/comedy/drama is proof that even in his old age, Altman hasn't softened up. Keillor provides an excellent story and script, that's filled with rich characters and conversations. The acting is definitely the high-point of the movie, and everyone even Lindsay Lohan, is perfect in the cast. Woody Harrelson and John C. Reilly are hysterical as the crude cowboys who sing songs about urine, crap and sex, Tommy Lee Jones is perfect in a small-role as the cut-throat axeman. Virginia Madsen plays a very interesting role as an angel who died in a car-crash from laughing so hard while listening to the radio show, and Maya Rudolph adds a perferct amount of dry comic wit as the pregnant stage manager. Garrison Keillor is hysterical playing himself especially giving an ad-libbed speech about duct tape, while Kevin Kline is a scene-stealer as the idiot security guard, a role similar to his in A Fish Called Wanda. But the people who truly steal the show, are Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin who make an incredible on-screen team and lighten up every scene they are in.

Like I said before, 'A Praire Home Campanion' just like the radio show, isn't for everyone. I personally loved the motion picture. It's nothing big and exciting, it's just a little independent film with a big heart and very interesting characters whom you sympathize with and care very deeply about. Grade: B+ (screened at AMC Deer Valley 30, Phoenix, AZ, 6/13/06).