Best in Show (2000)

A colorful array of characters compete at a national dog show.

Director:

Christopher Guest

Writers:

Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy

Stars:

Fred Willard, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 11 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jay Brazeau	...	Dr. Chuck Nelken
Parker Posey	...	Meg Swan
Michael Hitchcock	...	Hamilton Swan
Catherine O'Hara	...	Cookie Fleck
Eugene Levy	...	Gerry Fleck
Carrie Aizley	...	Fern City Show Spectator
Lewis Arquette	...	Fern City Show Spectator
Dany Canino	...	Fern City Show Judge
Bob Balaban	...	Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, III
Will Sasso	...	Fishin' Hole Guy
Stephen E. Miller	...	Fishin' Hole Guy
Christopher Guest	...	Harlan Pepper
Michael McKean	...	Stefan Vanderhoof
John Michael Higgins	...	Scott Donlan
Colin Cunningham	...	New York Butcher

Storyline

The owners (and handlers) of five show dogs head for the Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show. A film crew interviews them as they prepare for the trip, arrive at Philly's Taft Hotel, and compete. From Florida come the Flecks: she keeps running into old lovers. A wordless ancient in a wheelchair and his buxom trophy wife who may have a thing for the dog's handler own the two-time defending best in show, a poodle. From the piney woods of N.C. comes a fella who wants to be a ventriloquist. High-strung DINKs feud loudly in front of their Weimaraner. Two outré gay men from Tribeca round out the profiled owners. The dog show brings out the essence of the humans. Who will be best in show?

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Plot Keywords:

dog show | mockumentary | dog | gay | dog trainer | 

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Taglines:

Some pets deserve a little more respect than others.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language and sex-related material

Details

Official Sites:

Castle Rock

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dog Show

Filming Locations:

Aldergrove, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$413,436, 1 October 2000, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$18,621,249, 29 April 2001

Company Credits

Production Co:

Castle Rock Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

All the scenes featuring numerous dogs went remarkably smoothly. There is only one unscripted bark in the film, heard in the background as Christy and Sherri Ann argue over Christy's makeup backstage.

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Goofs

At the party for Winky in Fern City, FL, Gerry says they have "to drive 140 miles out of our way" to visit her old flame, who lives in Akron, OH. Akron OH is almost 350 miles from Philadelphia PA, so it should be more like 700 miles total.

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Quotes

[at the butcher]
Stefan Vanderhoof: Now, Tyrone would like some of those beef kidneys so we'll have a half pound of those.
Scott Donlan: No, not the kidneys, it's the membranes, I don't wanna have to pull those things off.
Stefan Vanderhoof: [rolls eyes] I'll take care of the membranes.
Scott Donlan: [to the butcher] I mean, Randy, you could pull the membrane off.
Stefan Vanderhoof: Will you stop it? So, we'll have a half pound of the kidneys, a half pound of the salmon.
Scott Donlan: And do me a favor, will you? Just get out one of those pepperoni sticks. I just wanna hold it.

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Crazy Credits

Lord Haden-Guest...Sitar (Lord Haden-Guest is Christopher Guest)

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Connections

Spoofs The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)

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Soundtracks

Piano Seduction
Written by Paul Vanston
Performed by Paul Vanston

User Reviews

Total SCREAM!

I just love this movie / mock-u-mentary! Best in Show is a "mockumentary" made by the same team who brought you the also brilliant "This Is Spinal Tap". It follows several contestants of the Mayflower Dog Show and their dogs. You have a sexually frustrated yuppie couple who met at "Starbucks from across the street", a couple of Gay queens with their Shihtzus, a working class couple with a wife who has had "hundreds of boyfriends", a redneck ventriloquist with his blood hound, and a "Anna Nicole Smith" trophy wife wannabe and her lesbian dog handler. This is just such a wacky bunch - it is a great ride. Some may find it a bit too slow - but I just loved all the subtle humour in it - you can definitely get repeat viewings out of this one! It is a total scream!!