Customer Reviews

Best in Show (Widescreen)

5 star:		(113)
4 star:		(44)
3 star:		(24)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(26)

 

 

The brilliance of this fake documentary (about people who enter their dogs in the biggest dogshow of the year) lies not in racy slapstick or memorable one-liners, but in sophisticated and layered verbal wit.

Not only are pet owners, competitions, and manners satirized, but also the format of the documentary itself. Despite their antics, you wind up sympathizing with them to some extent, with the exception of the yuppie couple and the announcer. With the exception of the announcer (who is crude and ludicrous by turns) you can believe that all of these kooky characters really exist, especially if you watch enough real documentaries.

Neat piece of work overall, although some moments are more interesting than others. I'd give it a 3.5 rating if I could.

My daughter and I love this movie, have seen it several times. We are huge Christopher Guest's fans, he is hilarious. The part with Jane Lynch as the dog trainer and Christopher Guest with his hound dog talking about various nuts are my favourites. Still laughing after all this time.

I always thought that comedies are usually the easiest films to write which possibly explains why we have so many. Yet, 'Best in Show' is somewhat different compared to the comedies presented to us here. Directed again by Guest was for a large part improvised according to the film's documentary and is quite different from today's standards. This story is mainly about The Mayflower Kennel Dog Show which is like the Super Bowl of dog shoes; and in documentary style this film showcases the incredibly over-the-top preparations the dog owners take part in for this show.

The film constantly cuts from interviews with these zany characters to actual interactive footage shot while on their way to the dog show. All in documentary style that a person who is uneducated about the film can easily mistake for a genuine documentary. This film contains an all-star cast that includes actors who really know how to act and that capture the essence of each scene. This film is lined with scene after scene of hilarious bits focusing upon these characters and the manner in which they handle their canines like minor deities.

Guest also takes part as one of the major characters of course and plays Harlan Pepper; a fishing-store owner who travels to the Kennel Dog Show in his Winnebago in hopes of capturing the championship. He is just one of the many developed and layered characters that is fun to watch. Other characters include Parker Posey as a sexually deprived nagging wife who becomes insane with anger after losing her dog's toy. Eugene Levy plays the part of terribly jealous husband born with two left feet to Catherine O'Hara who plays his wife who cannot stop running into men she slept with in the past. Other characters include Michael McKean who plays a homosexual dog owner who steals the movie away from the others when sharing scenes with his male companion during the film's many interview sequences. Fred Willard who takes the art of improvisation to new heights as the dog's shows color commentator is quite funny.

As far as breaking new ground is concerned, this film does not. Aforesaid, it is unconventional and different from others but in the end is a different film with regular results. This film does contain elements that most films do not such as richly textured characters and great acting, but at it's heart cannot break free from the monotonous tone a documentary usually brings with it. Even though it is a mock documentary that does not take itself seriously, it still is a bit over-the-top. Resulting in a different and unconventional film that will best be viewed by fans and new ones--like my self.

This is a great set of actors (humans and dogs)! They work so well together this movie is a hit. I am a huge dog lover and i think it is important to laugh at how much you are similar to your dog. The dog show world is incredibly intense and as a mockumentary they remind us dog lovers to relax a bit on how we love our babies. Don't be fooled by the offened reviewers, i don't know if they can laugh at themselves...yet.

This is a fast moving and funny movie that's a truly great comedy, worthy enough to stand alongside This is Spinal Tap.
This one has everything. Conflict-who will win the dog show? Humor, and lots of it. Fred Willard again proves he needs his own TV show (nay, his own channel) as a dog-show commentator so obliviously stupid he's lovable. Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara are perfect as your typical, middle-class east-coast family; Eugene's plays somewhat of a "loser", Catherine's great as the promiscuous wife. Jennifer Coolidge is pretty funny as the "glamorous" lesbian who can be aggressive in subtly funny ways.
The best thing about this movie is that it's truly humorous with truly funny actors. These people aren't puppets for lame sex jokes (well, not counting both gay couples) they're funny because they (as in the talented actors, the whole lot of 'em) inherit their characters and give them a life of their own. I mean, I bet that Eugene Levy came up with his character's two left feet on the spot because he knew he had to make a somewhat pathetic character even more pathetic. There's an absolutely pointless scene where Guest's character, a southerner/hunter/ventriloquist, talks to the camera about how he used to stay up all night naming nuts. It's funny though, because it makes no sense but somehow falls in line with the character.
This is a great comedy that makes few cheap shots but is consistently funny through and through.
The DVD has a pretty entertaining commentary with Guest and Levy, and some funny deleted scenes (look for the one where Hamilton tells Posey about "a saying my father used to say"). Those extras are enough for this disc though, and the price is great. Buy this inspired and funny comedy.

BEST OF SHOW was a little disappointing. I couldn't connect with Christopher Guest's hillbilly character, Eugene Levy's character lost me behind his buck teeth and two left feet (No, they really are two left feet!), and I thought Fred Willard's ringside color-man bit was more irritating than slashingly satiric. Bummer. It was because they were in it that I got this one.
On the other hand the movie is filled with strong characterizations and funny bits. Larry Miller has a hilarious scene as one of Catherine O'Hara's ex-lovers who, to husband Levy's obvious discomfort, describes things in graphic detail. Ed Begley Jr. hits the right note as the quietly helpful hotel manager. The bickering yuppie couple and the gay couple were fun, too.

Best in Show was on e of the funnies movies that I have seen in a long time.

It is a takeoff on the Westminster Dog Show.

If you are familiar with such shows, this movie will leave you screaming with laughs.
If you are not familiar, it still will be very funny, just not as much.

Who ever wrote the movie must have attended or participated in a dog show. I've done both. Granted everything presented was a "little over the top" but there were bits of real life interwined. I have young children and I would have felt uncomfortable viewing (or trying to explain) some of the scenes shown in the movie. I just watch the DVD late at night when the kiddies are in bed. One of my all time favorite movies.

Since seeing "Waiting for Guffman" and missing a major portion of the Second City Comedy Troupe, i.e., Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, I have enjoyed Christorpher Guest and his troupe of actors attack certain American institutions via the "mockumentary" format.

'Best In Show: is hands down the very best of Mr. Guests's mockumentaries to date. When you consider that the majority of the film is improvisational, with the characters given a basic structure from which to work and then allowed to "go where their creativity takes them" you get a real appreciation of just what a good ensemble cast can capture/create.

This particular outing takes on the world of dog shows and follows the exploits of various dog owners to the Best In Show finals. It is a stitch! There is something here for everybody. Of course the standout is Fred Willard as an obnoxious commentator who really deserved winning the Oscar for supporting actor for which he was nominated. The character study of each dog owner of course sheds infinite light into why they are so obsessed with their dog receiving the top award.

The improvisation is top-notch but I would expect nothing less. Catherine O'Hara is generally flawless and here she does not disappoint. She is in RARE form! She and Eugene Levy play off each other quite well. Other cast members that I have seen in "Waiting for Guffman" as well as "A Mighty Wind" continue to be consistently creative and funny and I welcome their efforts. While "Waiting for Guffman" and "A Mighty Wind" pale in comparison, they too reveal flashes of the genius of Mr. Guest and company.

A must for your DVD collection and it gets funnier each time you watch. Just don't watch with serious dog owners or they may be somehwat insulted becasue Best In Show while empathizing with its subject matter, does not take it as seriously as some obviously do!

This has got to be one of the most ridiculously funny movies I've ever seen! It's the kind of movie you that's embarassing to watch.

Eugene Levy's the man!!