Best in Show is a
2000 mockumentary that follows five entrants in a prestigious
dog show. The film focuses on the slightly surreal interactions among the various owners and handlers as they travel to the show and compete. Much of the dialogue was improvised.
Christopher Guest directed; he also co-wrote the script with
Eugene Levy. Many in the cast and crew were also involved in the films
This Is Spinal Tap,
Waiting for Guffman ,
A Mighty Wind, and
For Your Consideration.
Plot
Best in Show is presented as a
documentary of five dogs and their owners destined to show in the Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show, held in
Philadelphia. The documentary jumps between the owners as they prepare to leave for the show, arriving at the hotel, and preparing backstage before their dog takes the show. The owners and their dogs include:
- Gerry and Cookie Fleck (Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara), with their Norwich Terrier Winky. They are a middle-class couple from Florida who end up running into monetary problems and are forced to sleep in the hotel's storage room when they finally arrive.
- Meg and Hamilton Swan (Parker Posey, Michael Hitchcock), with their Weimaraner Beatrice. An upper-class couple, they take great care in Beatrice, even taking her to a therapist after she saw Meg and Hamilton having sex. At the show, the Swans believe that Beatrice will become unnerved without her favorite toy, the "Busy Bee", and frantically search for a replacement for it before the show.
- Harlan Pepper (Christopher Guest) and his Bloodhound Hubert. The Peppers have raised bloodhounds for generations, and Harlen continues the tradition, though has aspirations of becoming a ventriloquist.
- Sherri Ann Ward Cabot (Jennifer Coolidge) and her standard poodle Rhapsody in White, a two-time winner of the show in the past. While Sherri is more worried about giving Rhapsody a makeover, trainer Christy Cummings (Jane Lynch) makes sure the dog is ready for the show. Over the course of the show, the two develop a romantic relationship with each other.
- Scott Donlan (John Michael Higgins) and Stefan Vanderhoof (Michael McKean) and their Shih Tzu. The gay couple take great pride in their dog, and are confident that she will win the competition.
The owners and their dogs all arrive in time for the show, which is hosted by Trevor Beckwith (
Jim Piddock), and 'color' commentator Buck Laughlin (
Fred Willard). During the first round, Beatrice is disqualified when Hamilton cannot control her, but the other four dogs advance to the final round. Just before the finals, Cookie stumbles and insists that Gerry take over for her. Though the audience is initially awed by seeing Gerry's two left feet, ultimately Winky takes Best in Show.
Afterwards, the film explores what each character is doing after the competition. Gerry and Cookie returned home to Florida and were overcome with attention after the victory. They go on to record, in amusingly bad style, songs about dogs. Sherri Ann and Christy have entered into a partnership and publish a magazine for lesbian dog owners. Harlan fulfills his dreams and becomes a ventriloquist, entertaining sparse crowds with a
honky tonk song and dance number. Hamilton and Meg Swan have found a new dog, one that enjoys watching them make love, and are sure it will be a winner. Stefan and Scott are in the process of designing a calendar featuring Shih Tzu dogs appearing in scenes, with appropriate costume, from famous classic films, such as
Gone with the Wind.
Cast
The dogs
- "Can. Ch. Arokat's Echobar Take Me Dancing - Beatrice the Weimaraner
- "Can. Ch. Urchin's Bryllo" - Winky the Norwich Terrier
- "Am. Ch. Quiet Creek's Stand By Me" - Hubert the Bloodhound
- "Can. Ch. Rapture's Classic" - Miss Agnes the Shih Tzu
- "Can. Ch. Symarun's Red Hot Kisses" - Tyrone the Shih Tzu
- "Can. Ch. Exxel Dezi Duz It With Pizaz" and "Brocade Exclamation" - Rhapsody in White the Standard Poodle
Reception
The film received mixed reviews, but won
American,
British, and
Canadian Comedy Awards. This film is number 38 on
Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies".
See also
External links
wikiquote
