On September 29th, Best of Show, the hilarious new comedy about dogs from Castle Rock Entertainment, was released in roughly 14 theatres across the country. Unfortunately, my small, Midwestern town was not one of them. The next week, it was released in a few more theatres, but still not in my town. Rather than fly to New York City or Las Angeles to see the film, I decided I would wait another week before taking such drastic measures. I had heard fabulous things about it, the previews looked hysterical, and I loved the last film director Christopher Guest had done with this cast (Waiting for Guffman in 1996). Another week, no luck. I was beginning to froth at the mouth, much like Old Yeller. And like Old yeller, I was put out of my misery: they brought Best in Show to my town the next week It was well worth the wait.
This film is a mock documentary. Combining those words gives you the technologically-advanced cinematic word, "mockumentary". It is filmed as if it were meant to be real life, just a little bit quirkier. This particular mockumentary follows the lives of 5 sets of dog owners and their pooches as they prepare for a very prestigious, national dog show in Philly (The Mayflower Dog Show, in fact). The tone of this film is set in such a dry, serious manner, with a certain degree of realistic lunacy, that makes the film extremely comical.
We start out with the Swans (Parker Posey and Michael Hitchcock), a well-to-do yuppie couple from Illinois who push off all of their neurosis on their stressed out Weimaraner, Beatrice. The film opens in a psychiatry session and the couple is concerned because Beatrice saw them having sex in a position from the Kama Sutra.
Then there are Floridians, Gerry and Cookie Fleck (Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara) and their Norwich Terrier, Winky. These two may be the funniest of the bunch, as Gerry learns of his wife's sexually adventurous past.
Next we have Scott (John Michael Higgins) and Stefan (Michael McKean ), a gay couple from New York with their extremely pampered Shih Tzu (yes, jokes are made), Miss Agnes. Scott's flamboyance is hysterical. (At the hotel where they are staying for the show, as Stefan checks them in, the desk manager says, "One nonsmoking room with a queen." Scott promptly replies, "What are you trying to say?" and then proceeds to flirt with the manager.)
Two-time defending champion in this year's show is the Standard Poodle, Rhapsody in White. The voluptuous gold digging owner, Sherri Ann Ward Cabot (Jennifer Coolidge), has brought in renown handler, Christy Cummings (Jane Lynch) to assure yet another victory.
Finally, there is Harlan Pepper (played by Christopher Guest) and his Bloodhound, Hubert. Harlan is leaving his North Carolina bait shop to try and do something that has never been done: win with a Bloodhound. They have their work cut out for them.
Interviews with the hotel manager, the man running the show, and many other people involved with the show add to the comedy as they take the preparations for the show to a new level. As the hundreds of contestants finally gather for the show, the commentating (done by Jim Piddock and Fred Willard) is hilarious! Willard asks many off base questions as Piddock tries to keep his cool and maintain the integrity of the show. I have to admit, when the show came down to crunch time, I was anxious to see which dog would win Best in Show.
You will probably never experience a burst of gut-wrenching laughter from this movie. The effects are cumulative. Little by little, the comic undertone builds until you can't help but smile or let out with the laughter. The beauty of it all is that this film really had no script. This skilled group of actors were able to pull off comically realistic performances that are just short of genius. Despite the accomplishments of these actors, I believe that many people will not enjoy this movie at all. How do you know if it's for you? Try one of these movies at the video store: This Is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, or Fear of a Black Hat (all three of these are equally funny as Best in Show) . If you enjoy one of these mockumentaries, you will probably appreciate this film. If you enjoy dry comedy, find humor in little things, or perhaps are a dog lover, then I suggest Best in Show. It is one of the best comedies this year, but it is not for everyone.
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