Review of Mascots (2016) by Joel M — 18 Nov 2016

*** Average.

Mockumentarian King Christopher Guest is mocking around again after a long hiatus with his latest mockumentary "Mascots". However, I just don't think he will be our or your Guest this time around. "Mascots" is set in poking satirical mock fun at the world of portraying Mascots; personally, I have been a Mascot myself for twenty years so I was eagerly awaiting this. However, it did not reach expectations. Once again, Guest brings into the mock arena zany, obsessed characters but this time it focuses in a Mascot competition. The Mascots are diverse and they do have their comedic moments, but not enough laughs for me to cheer for them constantly as I did with the dog owners in "Best in Show" and the folk musicians in "A Mighty Wind". Guest regulars are back including Jennifer Coolidge, Parker Posey, Ed Begley Jr. Bob Balaban, Jane Lynch, and Guest himself; who were all just mediocre compared to their mocking acting classic performances in Guest's past mockumentaries. Nonetheless, one that still stood in "scene stealer" variety was Fred Willard, who here plays a mascot trainer. Willard, in vintage Willardesque mode, gets his character to poke fun on everything and everyone around him. "Mascots" had some character in it, but not enough for my mascot communication expectation.