A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION (2007) **1/2 Garrison Keillor catches the sort of spirit that I remember from my limited exposure to his radio show: casual, warm, friendly, the commonality of human experience as a virtue. Nothin' fancy here, either, despite some tremendous acting (GK is well cast as himself, the singing sisters Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin, suave and debonair Kevin Kline, Tommy Lee Jones just makin' orders by followin' 'em), and the odd literary flourish from GK. It's more a show about a show than a movie about somethin'. Which is fine, because there's been lots of movies about somethin' that are about a whole mess of a lot less, no doubt about it. I guess I miss the world of prairie home companions just a bit, but not near enough to worry much or do much of anything about it. There are many, many things I miss more, in this transitory existence. But I really enjoy watchin' Meryl and Lily do their stuff, an' I'm about ready for a whole movie-hell a whole string of movies-about that Woody Harrelson character. Now he's somethin'! Just ain't enough individuals around these days, buttermilk biscuits musta run outta money to sponsor 'em with.
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