Pjtaylor-96-138044
'Best In Show (2000)' is a 'mockumentary' that doesn't really let its style get in the way of its story - never being about the making of itself in the meta way a lot of examples of the genre are, for instance. It uses its subtle but sure style to keep its colourful cast of sometimes quite absurd characters framed with a consistently realistic lens. The film is remarkably funny, with many more gags landing than falling short. Though some mention has been made of its supposed 'cruel spirit', I feel that it's satirical in a rather endearing way, taking its bumbling but lovable cast and making them be the deliverers of the comedy rather than necessarily the focus of it. This makes for an entertaining, if simple, tale that is never unexpected in its narrative but is often unexpected in its humour, a wonderfully straight-laced and realist interpretation of an absurdist's dream. 7/10
BA_Harrison
While not as brilliant or as quotable as This Is Spinal Tap, writer/actor/director Christopher Guest's character driven mockumentary Best In Show-which is centred on the world of dog shows-still has plenty of wonderful, well-observed moments of dry wit, and is one of those films that I believe can only improve with repeat viewings.The film owes much of its success to its superb cast: Guest plays Harlan Pepper, redneck owner of a prize bloodhound; Eugene Levy is superb as buck-toothed Gerry Fleck, husband to Terrier owner Cookie (Catherine O'Hara), who has been around the block a lot more times than her dog; Michael Hitchcock and Parker Posey are the neurotic yuppie owners of a pampered Weimaraner; Jennifer 'Stifler's Mom' Coolidge plays Sherri, rich owner of a champion poodle, while Jane Lynch plays her lesbian dog trainer; and Michael McKean and John Michael Higgins play a camp gay couple who are showing their Shih Tzu. Meanwhile, Fred Willard shines as the hilariously un-PC co-host of the dog show, whose every remark is a howler.7/10, but this rating may well go up in the future.
irishm
Fortunately it didn't cost me anything; friends rented it for a movie night so I sat through it for free. They thought it was great. I couldn't wait for it to be over. The odd thing is that I was on the cat show circuit for a while (yes, they have shows for cats too) so I should have appreciated the humor and lampooning of the whole concept, but I didn't. I can say that I met some pretty weird people at those cat shows, so that much was well within the limits of credibility... it sounds like some reviewers who didn't like the film had a hard time believing that such people exist, but it pains me to confirm that they do. The writer(s) must have some familiarity with these kinds of events in order to "get it" enough to write the screenplay, but it's just plain not funny.
Sean Lamberger
Christopher Guest and his regular cast of improv legends tackle another unsuspecting target in this wild-eyed send up of the competitive dog show circuit. It's a bit more all-audiences than Spinal Tap, while completely skipping the emotional hooks of A Mighty Wind or Waiting For Guffman, but still delivers enough legit snickers to validate a simple retirement as late-night cable network filler. The straight-ahead plot never shows much interest in progressing beyond simple character-driven adventure, and while each member of the cast is good for a smart punchline or two, the roles themselves are universally shallow, narrow caricatures. Fine as a background flick, thrown on to fill the air when your focus will be frequently elsewhere, it will never quite reach the same level as its siblings.
AD
