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‘Mascots’ trailer offers a peek at Christopher Guest’s next mockumentary

By Rick Marshall Published September 6, 2016

Mockumentary director Christopher Guest has taken on dog shows, community theater, and folk music in past features, and now the popular filmmaker is turning his attention to the world of sports mascots with, well … Mascots.

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Netflix released the first trailer for the upcoming film this week ahead of its October premiere on the streaming video service, and while the subject of this particular comedy “documentary” is a new one for Guest, it doesn’t take long to see quite a few familiar faces for anyone acquainted with the director’s work.

Co-written and directed by Guest, Mascots chronicles the drama, intrigue, and excitement of the lead-up to the fictional “World Mascot Association Championship” where men and women compete to be honored as the world’s greatest mascot and receive the “Gold Fluffy Award.”

The Netflix original film stars a mix of Guest’s frequent collaborators and newcomers to the filmmaker’s mockumentary world, including Jane Lynch, Parker Posey, Fred Willard, Ed Begley Jr., Christopher Moynihan, Don Lake, Brad Williams, Zach Woods, Chris O’Dowd, Susan Yeagley, Sarah Baker, Tom Bennett, Kerry Godliman, Bob Balaban, Jennifer Coolidge, Michael Hitchcock, Maria Blasucci, John Michael Higgins, and Jim Piddock (who co-wrote the film with Guest).

This will be Guest’s first feature film since 2006’s For Your Consideration, and his first project since the HBO comedy series Family Tree, which starred O’Dowd. Previously, Guest co-wrote and directed (and often appeared in) celebrated mockumentaries Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, and A Mighty Wind. He also co-wrote director Rob Reiner’s acclaimed (and oft-quoted) 1985 rock mockumentary This is Spinal Tap.

Mascots is expected to have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this month before debuting October 13 on Netflix.

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