# Mascots (2016 film)

Mascots is a 2016 mockumentary comedy film directed by Christopher Guest, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jim Piddock. The film features an ensemble cast consisting of Jane Lynch, Parker Posey, Fred Willard, Ed Begley Jr., Christopher Moynihan, Don Lake, Zach Woods, Chris O'Dowd, Michael Hitchcock, Bob Balaban, and Jennifer Coolidge.
Guest has a small role as Corky St. Clair, a character he first played in Waiting for Guffman. Posey, Willard, Lake, Balaban, and Hitchcock also appeared in Guffman, but play different roles in this film.
Mascots premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2016, before being released on Netflix on October 13, 2016.

## Plot

The film follows a diverse group of mascots as they prepare for the annual World Mascot Association Championships, where they compete for the prestigious Gold Fluffy Awards. The narrative focuses on various characters, each with their unique mascot persona, ranging from a bickering husband and wife duo, Mike and Mindy Murray, who perform as a turtle and octopus, to Cindi Babineaux, an aging dance artist inside an armadillo costume, and Tommy Zucarello, the laid-back mascot with a giant fist costume. The film captures their personal struggles and aspirations, including the tension within relationships, the pressure of family legacies, and the quest for personal validation through their mascot performances.
As the competition approaches, the film humorously explores the behind-the-scenes antics, the seriousness with which the participants take their roles, and the oddball nature of the event itself. The characters engage in various subplots, from navigating personal conflicts to dealing with the absurdity of mascot culture, like the introduction of unconventional elements like furries into the competition. The climax of the film is the championship event where mascots perform their routines, showcasing a mix of slapstick humor, physical comedy, and the heartfelt dedication of each competitor to their craft. Despite the lack of a tightly woven plot, "Mascots" celebrates the eccentricity of its characters, providing both satire and a gentle nod to the dedication found within even the most unusual professions.

## Cast

* Jane Lynch as Gabby Monkhouse
* Parker Posey as Cindi Babineaux
* Christopher Guest as Corky St. Clair
* Fred Willard as Greg Gammons, Jr.
* Ed Begley Jr. as A.J. Blumquist
* Christopher Moynihan as Phil Mayhew
* Don Lake as Buddy Campbell
* Brad Williams as Ron 'The Worm' Trippman
* Zach Woods as Mike Murray
* Chris O'Dowd as Tommy 'Zook' Zucarello
* Susan Yeagley as Laci Babineaux
* Tom Bennett as Owen Golly, Jr.
* Kerry Godliman as Sarah Golly
* Bob Balaban as Sol Lumpkin
* Jennifer Coolidge as Jolene Lumpkin
* Michael Hitchcock as Langston Aubrey
* Maria Blasucci as Jessica Mundt
* John Michael Higgins as Upton French
* Jim Piddock as Owen Golly Sr.
* Kathreen Khavari as Las Palmas Desk Clerk, Bosphorus Cooper
* Oscar Nunez as Cesar Hidalgo
* Sarah Baker as Mindy Murray
* Harry Shearer as Competition Announcer
* Crafty St. James as Dino, Gabby's Fan

## Production

Netflix announced on August 11, 2015 that it would be released on the streaming service in 2016. It was reported on August 26, 2015 that previous Guest collaborators Jane Lynch, Parker Posey, John Michael Higgins, Jennifer Coolidge, Bob Balaban, and Chris O'Dowd were in negotiations to join the film. It screened in the Special Presentations section at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival.

## Reception

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 48% based on reviews from 48 critics, with an average rating of 5.70/10. On Metacritic, the film has a score of 57 out of 100 based on 16 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
Devan Coggan of Entertainment Weekly wrote: "If you're a Guest devotee, you’ll be in the stands cheering; otherwise, Mascots feels like a bit of a retread." Stephen Dalton of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "The gentle tone and disjointed sketch-show structure here will appeal to long-standing fans, but Mascots wins no prizes for innovation or progression. The jokes are uneven, the caricatures often overly broad and the plot almost nonexistent."