Best in Show

2000 Comedy

After parodying the idiosyncrasies of community theater devotees in the mock documentary Waiting for Guffman, actor/director Christopher Guest returns with another semi-improvised comedy that casts a satirical gaze on the world of championship dog breeding and training. A television crew is on hand to document the prestigious Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show, and competition is fierce among the canine devotees vying for top honors. Salesman Gerry Fleck (Eugene Levy), who is cursed with two left feet (literally), and his wife Cookie (Catherine O'Hara) have entered their Norwich terrier "Winky" in competition. Wealthy and neurotic Meg Swan (Parker Posey) and her husband Hamilton (Michael Hitchcock) are on hand with their Weimaraner "Beatrice," who they fear may have been traumatized by watching them have sex. Scott Donlan (John Michael Higgins) and his life partner Stefan Vanderhoof (Michael McKean) have brought their beloved Shih Tzu, "Miss Agnes." Trophy wife Sherri Ann Cabot (Jennifer Coolidge) and her close friend and trainer Christy Cummings (Jane Lynch) are hoping for a repeat victory for Sheri's poodle, "Rhapsody In White." And Harlan Pepper (Guest), who operates a store specializing in fly-fishing gear, has decided to stack his bloodhound "Hubert" up against the competition. In addition to Guest, Levy, O'Hara, and Posey, several other veterans of the Waiting for Guffman cast also appear in Best in Show, including Fred Willard, Bob Balaban, and Lewis Arquette. more..

Director: Christopher Guest

Starring: Christopher Guest, Parker Posey, Michael Hitchcock,Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara

Reviews

  • This comic jigsaw puzzle is crammed with deliriously funny little bits.

    Stephen Holden - The New York Times

    29 November 2012

  • Waggish fun like this is too good to miss.

    Peter Travers - Rolling Stone

    29 November 2012

  • Wickedly funny.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    29 November 2012

  • This giggle does for dog shows what Rob Reiner's "This Is Spinal Tap" (in which Guest plays Nigel Tufnel) did for heavy metal.

    Mike Clark - USA Today

    29 November 2012

  • Has both bark and bite. Its low-key but sharp and amusing sense of humor is a nice fit with the frenetic world of competitive dog shows.

    Kenneth Turan - Los Angeles Times

    29 November 2012

Awards

  • Best Edited Feature Film - Comedy or Musical

    American Cinema Editors (2001)

     
  • Funniest Motion Picture

    American Comedy Awards (2001)

  • Best Supporting Actor

    Boston Society of Film Critics Awards (2000)

  • Best Comedy Film

    British Comedy Awards (2001)

  • Film - Pretty Funny Female Performance

    Canadian Comedy Awards (2001)