Best in Show (film)

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Best in Show
Directed by Christopher Guest
Produced by Karen Murphy
Written by Christopher Guest
Eugene Levy
Starring Eugene Levy
Catherine O'Hara
Fred Willard
Distributed by Warner Brothers
Release date(s) September 29, 2000
Running time 90 min
Language English
Budget $10,000,000
Preceded by Waiting for Guffman (1997)
Followed by A Mighty Wind (2003)
IMDb profile

Best in Show (2000) is a 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 (1984), Waiting for Guffman (1997), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006).

The film won American, British, and Canadian Comedy Awards.

This film is number 38 on Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies".

Contents

[edit] Plot

 The plot summary in this article or section is too long or detailed compared to the rest of the article.
Please edit the article to focus on discussing the work rather than merely reiterating the plot.

Best in Show follows the events surrounding the prestigious Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show, held in Philadelphia. The storyline focuses on a group of owners and handlers, all from very different and interesting backgrounds, who make the journey with their dogs in hopes of capturing the coveted title of "Best in Show".

Gerry and Cookie Fleck are an unassuming, middle-class couple from Florida, played by Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara, who own and handle Winky, a Norwich Terrier. Gerry, who has the unique characteristic of having two left feet, works in a men's clothing store and somehow landed the girl that every guy wanted in Cookie, who has the uncanny ability to run into former lovers everywhere she goes. The owners and their dog make the long journey to Philadelphia in a conversion van, only to find that their credit card limit has been reached. Unable to pay for a hotel room, the hotel manager (Ed Begley Jr.) arranges for the Flecks to stay in a storage room, conveniently located right next to the kitchen.

The Swans — Meg (Parker Posey) and Hamilton (Michael Hitchcock) — wonder how people were able to get any shopping done before the introduction of mail order catalogs, and are very big fans of J. Crew, in particular. They met at Starbucks, though they were each at different locations, across the street from each other, and take their Weimaraner, Beatrice, to a therapist because she has been forlorn ever since she saw Meg and Hamilton having sex. The Swans feel that Beatrice is easily upset and must be consoled with her favorite toy, the "Busy Bee", a stuffed bee, though it appears that the anxiety is mostly their own.

Harlan Pepper, played by (Christopher Guest), is a Southerner who owns and trains Hubert the Bloodhound. Bloodhounds have been in Pepper's family for generations, and Hubert, though still very young, has already amazed Harlan with his personality, charm, and loyalty. Pepper works at a fishing supply store and has ambitions to become a ventriloquist. He also has an uncanny ability to name nuts and had frustrated his mother as a young boy by rattling off all types of nuts.

Rhapsody in White is the clear favorite for the "Best in Show" title once again, having won the award two times previously. A Standard Poodle, Rhapsody is handled by renowned trainer Christy Cummings (Jane Lynch) and is owned by Sherri Ann Ward Cabot (Jennifer Coolidge), the air-headed trophy wife of an elderly millionaire. Cummings is extremely confident in both her and Rhapsody's abilities, while Sherri Ann is more concerned with giving Christy a makeover.

The final dog that is the focus of the plot, a Shih Tzu, is owned by a gay couple: the flamboyant Scott Donlan (John Michael Higgins), who also handles the dog, and Stefan Vanderhoof (Michael McKean), a salon owner. The pair are also quite confident and take pleasure in mocking the competition, particularly Miss Cummings after her makeover from Sherri Ann.

At the competition, a pair of commentators call the action: the reserved and knowledgeable Trevor Beckwith (Jim Piddock), and 'color' commentator Buck Laughlin (Fred Willard), who shows a tendency to go off on inappropriate and bizarre tangents. Beatrice is dismissed when Hamilton is unable to control her: the "Busy Bee" was lost and a replacement stuffed animal toy was ineffective in calming the dog. The other dogs all advance past their initial stages, and a romance develops between Sherri Ann and Christy after Rhapsody in White advances to the finals.

Just before the final round, Cookie trips and falls, injuring her knee. Unable to proceed, Gerry insists that they hire a professional handler to substitute. Cookie disagrees, telling Gerry that he's going to be the one to show Winky. He does, and despite his awkward appearance, the least of which being his two left feet, Winky is declared the winner and takes home the title of "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.

[edit] Cast

[edit] 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

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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