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

When the manager of the hotel is showing the various cleaning products he mentions a rockband trashing their room and roasting a goat. The rockband is of course the film makers alter-ego Spinal Tap.

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Goofs

At the barbecue for Winky, while Cookie and Gerry Fleck are singing "God loves Terriers", a male party guest (blonde hair) is shown seated at a table in one shot and standing in a different location only seconds later.

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Quotes

Sherri Ann Cabot: [Discussing her 80 year old husband who's 44 years her senior] Leslie and I have an amazing relationship and it's very physical, he still pushes all my buttons. People say 'oh but he's so much older than you' and you know what, I'm the one having to push him away. We have so much in common, we both love soup and snow peas, we love the outdoors, and talking and not talking. We could not talk or talk forever and still find things to not talk about.

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Crazy Credits

The filmmakers wish to thank the dog owners, handlers, veterinarians and experts who shared with us their enthusiasm and unselfishly dedicated their time and energy to this film.

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Connections

Followed by A Mighty Wind (2003)

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Soundtracks

Piano Seduction
Written by Paul Vanston
Performed by Paul Vanston

User Reviews

A good fakeumentary

Christopher Guest's Best of Show follows his great tradition of fake-documentaries which includes This is Spinal Tap and Waiting for Guffman. This time, he takes a poke at dog shows, which is something no one has done before (I think). Here, he shows 5 different contenders (including himself which is one of the great parts of this film). Other contenders include Michael McKean, Michael Hitchcock, Catherine O'Hara, Jennifer Coolidge, John Michael Higgins, Parker Posey and in a exceptional effort as a man with 2 left feet, Eugene Levy (he also co-wrote the script with Guest). Often very funny, sometimes poignant, and like all of Guest's projects, never dissapointing, only liability might be that it isn't for all tastes (but hey, not everyone found 11 on a sound stsyem great either which seems odd). A-