Movie Review: Mascots
Yevette Renee Nelson
October 13, 2016 
Mascots
Director: Christopher Guest
Writers: Christopher Guest and Jim Piddock
Genre: Comedy
Forget about a team’s players and cheerleaders, it is a teams’ Mascots that’s taking center stage.
Director Christopher Guest and co-writer Jim Piddock hilarious costume comedy Mascots takes a look behind the scene of the World Mascot Association’s annual championship the “Gold Fluffy Award†and behind the costumes into the lives of people who are truly passionate about mascoting.
“Comedy is like music. You have to know the key and you have to find players with good chopsâ€, Christopher Guest said.
The comedy players he assembled includes the championship judges and mascot legends Gabby Monkhouse aka Minnie the Mouse (Jane Lynch) who has maintained a huge fan base and AJ Blumquist (Ed Begley, Jr.).
Guest’s improvisational approach gives each of the stars an opportunity to create their own dialogue. This gives Mascot a feeling of being a documentary.
The rest of the comedy players are the mascots competing for the Fluffy Awards are Mindy Murray aka Tammy the Turtle (Sandy Baker and her husband Mike Murray aka Ollie the Octopus (Zach Woods), a couple trying to keep their marriage intact. Owen Golly Jr aka Sid the Hedgehog (Tom Bennett), who’s carrying on the family mascot tradition. Cindy Babineaux aka Alvin the Armadillo (Parker Posey), a talented competitor. There’s Tommy “Zook†Zucarello aka The Fist (Chris O’Dowd), a stoner with a bad boy reputation. Phil Mayhew aka Jack the Plumber (Mitch Hitchcock).
It is funny to see all of the adults in their 30s to 60s still living on the memories of their past mascot glory days.
A costume comedy would not be complete without its designer. Christine Wada, whose costumes allowed for humorous interaction throughout the film. It is showcased in all of the performances and notably in the performance of the mascots The Rabbi and the Worm and the Pencil and Pencil Sharpener.
Homage is paid, however slightly, to the furry fandom. A subculture interested in fictional anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and characteristics, with the interaction between the Pink Rabbit (Mikey), the Claim and the Mouse.
Mascot will surely give you a big laugh.
`Nexflix October 13, 2016

Cast: Carrie Aizley, Sarah Baker, Bob Balaban, Ed Begley, Jr. Tom Bennett, Maria Blasucci, Jennifer Coolidge, Matt Greisser, Christopher Guest, Kerry Godliman, John Michael Higgins, Michael Hitchcock, Don Lake, Jane Lynch, Christopher Moynihan, Chris O’Dowd, Parker Posey, Jim Piddock, Fred Willard, Brad Williams, Zach Woods and Susan Yeagley.
Director: Christopher Guest
Writers: Christopher Guest and Jim Piddock
Producers: Karen Murphy and Ted Sarandos
Executive Producer: Pauline Fisher, Sarah Bremner, Ben Ormand, and Kim Piddock
Costume Designer: Christine Wada
Choreographer: Ryan Heffington
Composer: CJ Vanston
Director of
Photographer: Kris Kachikis