Best in Show

2000 mockumentary

Rating: 17/20

Plot: Eccentric show dog owners travel to compete at the Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show.

This is a really funny movie until Fred Willard pops in. Then, it gets side-splintingly hilarious! It seems like a lot of these mockumentary subjects are about things I'd never watch a real documentary about. I have no interest at all in dog shows. But I still really liked how Best in Show played the dog show part so straightly. The actors play their roles as comic caricatures, not believable in the least, but the dog show itself, other than Willard's hilarious non sequiturs and dada commentary as an unqualified announcer, isn't played for laughs much at all unless their actions/words just add a bit to the previously established quirky character traits. I think that makes the "umentary" part of this a lot more realistic. The "mock" part, as you'd expect from a Christopher Guest joint with this ensemble cast, is great. There's not a lot instantly quotable here, nothing truly classic, but all the subtle pokes and tickles add up to a great time. A lot of the funny is nonsense, verbal slapstick and easygoing visual silliness, but there's some nice subtle satire in there, too. Guest is the type of comedic writer (though a lot of this has an improvisational feel) who understands how flawed, miserable, and disturbing human beings are but who also knows that's what makes them kinda funny. I'm not sure how much the presence of these beautiful and classy doggies helps these sore thumbs of humanity stick out, but that might have something to do with it. This may have gotten a bonus point for poor ventriloquism. And in case I didn't make myself clear, everything Fred Willard says in this is hilarious.

4 comments:

  1. Very fun(ny) film with great tongue-in-cheek humor. Willard is terrific, as always. A 16.

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  2. While not his best film, Best of Show kept to his formula of focusing on the people instead of the the story.

    I would rate his 'mock' films in the following order, best to least best....

    A Mighty Wind 18.2/20
    Waiting for Guffman 17.5/20
    This is Spinal Tap 17.2/20
    Best in Show 15.9/20
    For Your Consideration ?/20 (just not in a hurry to watch this one)

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  3. I like 'Show' better than 'Guffman'...other than that, I have no problems with your ranking.

    Any interest in poker at Fred's Thursday?

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  4. I've said it before, but will restate.

    Spinal Tap -17
    A Mighty Wind -16
    Best in Show -16
    Guffman -15

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