Best in Show (2000)

94% of critics liked it
(108 reviews)
86% of users liked it
(53,281 ratings)

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… More 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. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Christopher Guest
Written By: Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 29, 2000 Limited
On DVD: May 15, 2001
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Reviews

Mark Bourne, Film.com
...it's always a pleasure to watch this ensemble of gifted talents do what they do best -- be spontaneous and funny and surprising. What we get is a master-class demonstration of the distinction between comic actors and comedians who try to act.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
It's still a pretty good comedy -- but no more and no less.
David Edelstein, Slate
With results like this, a new Guest mockumentary every couple of years would be aces by me.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Hilarious and offbeat but humor is pretty grownup.
Nick Rogers, Suite101.com
The real pedigree doesn't even arrive until halfway through. Fred Willard's unforgettable dim-bulb commentator takes aim at TV's injection of "sports drama" into competitions where, quite simply, there is none. (Here's looking at you, Joe Garagiola.)
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
This fringe milieu is inhabited with all sorts of eccentric characters to wring laughs from.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Guest e sua trupe sempre conseguem divertir com seus mockumentaries, mas este longa, ainda que pontualmente brilhante, encontra-se entre os mais frágeis da filmografia atípica do cineasta.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
The movie gets its laughs by letting its people talk and reveal themselves unconsciously.
Betsy Bozdech, Reel.com
One of the most creative, original, entertaining comedies of 2000.
Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer
... an excellent example of how funny a movie can be by observing human nature honestly, at its brilliant best and miserable worst.
Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
Call it a mockumentary or a dogumentary, Christopher Guest's latest spoof is a very funny, improvised comedy about the world of dog shows.

Read all 11 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jeff "

Christopher Guest directs this very funny mockumentary that is supported by a great cast of actors. Best in Show is one crazy film, and if you love these types of films then give it a shot. Best in Show takes a look at the competitive dog shows, and makes fun of it by showing how… More
Christopher Guest directs this very funny mockumentary that is supported by a great cast of actors. Best in Show is one crazy film, and if you love these types of films then give it a shot. Best in Show takes a look at the competitive dog shows, and makes fun of it by showing how ridiculous some competitors get. This is a good film that is wonderfully directed and acted. Best in Show is a funny mockumentary and is one of Christopher Guest's best films. I enjoyed the film very much, and the cast delivered funny, quirky and crazy performances. Best in Show is one of the funniest mockumentaries in a while, and this is a must see for people who enjoy mockumentaries. Best in Show captures the craziness that surrounds competitive dog shows perfectly. Though at times, the film misses the mark, there is enough good things going on on-screen to make this watchable, and with the great cast that Christopher Guest has at hand, the film works well enough to be a memorable comedy. Best in Show has enough laughs to keep you interested and it delivers a new type of comedic film going experience. Sure the film is not perfect, but it's guaranteed to make you laugh. Best in Show is one of the funniest mockumentaries since this is Spinal Tap, and is very entertaining with this cast of crazy actors. A fun film that's worth watching, and is a must see for dog lovers as well.
erika b

Best in show is about a bunch of dog lover's journey to be the best in show. They come from all over the USA with a uinqe way to make their dog the best. Who will become best in show? Cons Lacking acting Lacking some plot Pros Really let you see what it like to be in a dog show.… More
Best in show is about a bunch of dog lover's journey to be the best in show. They come from all over the USA with a uinqe way to make their dog the best. Who will become best in show? Cons Lacking acting Lacking some plot Pros Really let you see what it like to be in a dog show. Really good dogs. Funny at times.
Melvin W

Buck Laughlin: And to think that in some countries these dogs are eaten. Best in Show, from the master of the mocumentary Christopher Guest, is a very funny movie. Although, not as hilarious as Waiting For Guffman, Best in Show still hits it's target. Guest is so good at taking… More
Buck Laughlin: And to think that in some countries these dogs are eaten. Best in Show, from the master of the mocumentary Christopher Guest, is a very funny movie. Although, not as hilarious as Waiting For Guffman, Best in Show still hits it's target. Guest is so good at taking a not-so-popular subject and making it incredibly funny. This takes awhile to really get going, but once it does it's pretty much non-stop laughs. It really takes form once the dog show actually begins. Christopher Guest uses his usual cast and the standouts to me are Jane Lynch and Fred Willard. Fred Willard as the dog show commentator is priceless and provides the great majority of the laughs. The rest of the cast is really good as well. I find that I only like some of these actors when they appear in a Christopher Guest movie, such as Eugene Levy and Jennifer Coolidge. The humor in Christopher Guests mocumentaries is not for everyone and I'm never surprised when I hear someone say they hate his movies. His comedies don't use the usual types of humor. It's kind of subtle and dry, but still really funny.
Jennifer X

I admit that I am not the greatest fan of Christopher Guest mockumentaries, but even I thought this one was pretty great.
Ken S

Not quite as good as Spinal Tap or Waiting for Guffman, but a really strong entry in the mockumentary genre.
Jacob E

This movie is in a tie with "This Is Spinal Tap" for the best mock-u-mentary ever. This movie is a simple, but brilliant concept with a perfect execution. Its simple, a "documentary" that focuses on the (mostly insane) dog owners who are on there way to one of the… More
This movie is in a tie with "This Is Spinal Tap" for the best mock-u-mentary ever. This movie is a simple, but brilliant concept with a perfect execution. Its simple, a "documentary" that focuses on the (mostly insane) dog owners who are on there way to one of the biggest dog shows in the U.S. The first part of this movie establishes the dogs and their owners. The opening scene is almost worth the price of admission in establishing the owners of a gray weimeraner and... Well, I won't spoil the rest, but its funny. The other contenders are a gay couple and their Shih Tzu, a woman reminiscent of Anne Nicole Smith and the real dog trainer's (played by Jane Lynch) poodle; a man and his wife from Florida (the wife went around a LOT to say the least prior to the marriage) that own a Norwich Terrier; an incomprehensible hick (played by Christopher Guest in one of his funniest roles) and his Bloodhound. The second part focuses on the dog show itself, and this is where the movie kicks the hilarity into high gear (and considering how funny the first part is, that's saying a lot). This is mostly because of Fred Willard playing one of the commentators of the dog show, and he is so rude, so dumb, and downright straight faced about it. I'm surprised his fellow commentator doesn't burst out laughing, but he keeps a straight face as a very posh British man. If you've ever seen a dog show or (especially) if you have owned/currently own a dog, you must see this. Its hilarious to the core and tons of fun to watch. Is it better than "This Is Spinal Tap"? I think its more accessible (Best in Show has a PG-13 and This Is Spinal Tap has a well-deserved R), but in my mind, there at a tie. But no matter which you think is better, this is a funny funny movie.
Dan S

A flat-out funny mocumentary of the people involved in dog shows, and how competitive they are against one another. One of the most original comedies ever constructed, with hilarious, side-splitting performances from the whole cast and masterful direction from Christopher Guest.… More
A flat-out funny mocumentary of the people involved in dog shows, and how competitive they are against one another. One of the most original comedies ever constructed, with hilarious, side-splitting performances from the whole cast and masterful direction from Christopher Guest. Without a doubt one of my favorite comedies, and one that should be viewed more than once - it's a blast.
Lewis C

As much as I love mockumetaries, I've yet to fall in love with any of Christopher Guest's beloved movies. And I really don't know why. I'm a huge fan of clever, understated humor, but I can't get past being mildly entertained by those of Guest's films… More
As much as I love mockumetaries, I've yet to fall in love with any of Christopher Guest's beloved movies. And I really don't know why. I'm a huge fan of clever, understated humor, but I can't get past being mildly entertained by those of Guest's films that I've seen. I will say that I enjoyed Best in Show more than This is Spinal Tap. Mainly because you don't have to know very much about dog shows and owners to enjoy the jokes. Spinal Tap relied heavily on being around during that time period and knowing a bit about the subject matter. That's great if you match those criteria, but not so swell for me. Best in Show benefits from being about something that inherently has a lot of potential for humor. I mean, it's about a DOG SHOW! If you can't manage a few guffaws out of that setup, i honestly don't know what to say. I laughed out loud several times, personally. I just was never quite amused as often as I was hoping to be.
Lenny M

Dogs and dogowners, bowsers, funny.
Anthony L

Very funny mockumentary, typical Christopher Guest and one of his best!
James A

Just as funny today as it was when I first saw it.
Drew S

Best in Show, if you'll pardon the pun, is incisive. I could have spared myself that and called it clever or funny or something, but then I wouldn't have felt quite as original. This movie is full of unforgettable personalities and bizarre, off-kilter humor. A definite… More
Best in Show, if you'll pardon the pun, is incisive. I could have spared myself that and called it clever or funny or something, but then I wouldn't have felt quite as original. This movie is full of unforgettable personalities and bizarre, off-kilter humor. A definite watch. Gets an extra half a star for Parker Posey, who kicked unbelievable ass. Seriously one of my new favorite comedy characters. "...That's a parrot."
Jason S

This was pretty funny but not for everyone. I won't say its "smart humor" but it is a very subtle humor. It has a great cast in it as well.
Keysha H

Christopher Guest films are the best! This one is very funny and there are many little twists along the way.
Gordon A

Guest's best parody with his faithful ensemble on top form
xGary X

A mildly amusing mockumentary from Christopher Guest that suffers for the fact that anyone who has seen Louis Theroux or similar knows that there are far weirder people than this in real life! But there are certainly laughs to be had here, largely from Fred Willard's hilariously… More
A mildly amusing mockumentary from Christopher Guest that suffers for the fact that anyone who has seen Louis Theroux or similar knows that there are far weirder people than this in real life! But there are certainly laughs to be had here, largely from Fred Willard's hilariously inept (although worryingly realistic) commentator.
Lafe F

Hilarious Dog Show movie with Christopher Guest and his gang of movie regulars. It was a bit less funny than "Waiting for Guffman". I loved the scene where Parker Posey went frantically shopping for a stuffed bee toy for her doggie. There are some interesting and funny… More
Hilarious Dog Show movie with Christopher Guest and his gang of movie regulars. It was a bit less funny than "Waiting for Guffman". I loved the scene where Parker Posey went frantically shopping for a stuffed bee toy for her doggie. There are some interesting and funny personalities with their dogs. Some were a bit dry and unfunny. The gay-owned dogs were a treat to see.
Daniel P

Not as funny as I expected, but there are some great characters. It's a three-star: the extra half is for the hilarious deleted scenes on the DVD.
Tom E

Absolutely in stitches --
Stuart B

Great comedy and so easy to believe this is how the owners might be