Dogs are contenders for the most popular pet in the United States, as well as several other major countries. As the interest in dogs has grown, so also has the interest in dog shows. What was once reserved for the upper classes of the economic level has now spread to include everyone from the richest of dog owners who invest thousands in each animal to pet lovers who keep and own a single show-quality dog. This is the story of representatives of each of these "classes" and everything in between.

In the beginning we meet several couples and individuals who are on their way to the prestigious Mayflower Dog Show with interviews of each and a look into their home lives. We are treated to descriptions of their relationships with their dogs, as well as some kind of indication of their kooky personalities.

All hell breaks loose as each of these dog owners make their way to the big show, and each in turn has their shot at winning their category to compete for Best in Show. Several-time champions sharpen their teeth and determined "underdogs" (no pun intended) set their shoulders against the task of rising to the top in the dog show world.

With a cast including Jennifer Coolidge, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Christopher Guest, Jane Lynch, and Fred Willard one would expect non-stop, uproarious laughs throughout the film. Whether this is what you get or not depends on your own brand of humor and your own interests as this movie isn't quite as universally-appealing as most of the kind of comedies these people are in.

If you're a fan of dog shows, specifically the Westminster Dog Show, you may get a kick out of this movie. A friend referred this movie to us as, "One of the funniest movies I've ever seen!" along with a commentary on how accurate the portrayal of bizarre dog show people was. This friend has personally spent time on the dog show circuit and met many of the owners of top show dogs, and her enjoyment of the film resulted from seeing those personalities mirrored in these performances.

Having never been beyond state-level dog shows, I really can't comment on the accuracy of these portrayals, though I can say that maybe I missed some of the hilarity as a result. There were decidedly bizarre characters, yes, and a couple of entertaining comedy lines, but something came up missing.

While all of the parts were played well, none of them were very likeable (even Levy's awkward character, who I think was supposed to be) and they really didn't catch my interest. Certain characters, namely those played by Fred Willard (one of the announcers at the Mayflower show) and Catherine O'Hara (Levy's character's over-popular wife) were just plain annoying.

I did garner some enjoyment from the mock dog shows as they did do an excellent job of recreating the overall feel of the Westminster shows. As for comedy, I can certainly think of a lot of movies that did a better job. The script could have been much improved for comedic effect while retaining the mock-serious atmosphere, while the story line might just have been able to be revised so as not to drag quite so much.

Overall I got a couple of laughs out of this movie, but it wasn't near what I'd expected considering the acting talent involved. Perhaps people who are or who know a little more die-hard dog show people might appreciate the comedy, but I would just as soon have not wasted the time to watch it.

Recommended:
No

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older