Best in Show (2000)
Coming Out at 29 September 2000 in theaters.
Comedy
Best in Show is mockumentary comedy film co-written by Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy and directed by Guest. The film follows five entrants in a prestigious dog show, and focuses on the slightly surreal interactions among the various owners and handlers, as they travel to the show and then compete during the show. There are also short depictions of the characters six months after the show is over. Among the comedic aspects of the film are similarities between the personalities and characteristics of the owners and those of their dogs. Much of the dialogue was improvised. Many of the comic actors were also involved in Guest’s other films, including Waiting for Guffman, A Mighty Wind, For Your Consideration, and Mascots. The film’s score was composed by C. J. Vanston.
Best in Show is presented as a documentary of five dogs and their owners destined to show in the Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show, held in Philadelphia. Segments of the documentary continuously cycle among owners and handlers as each prepares to leave for the show, arrives at the hotel, prepares backstage, handles their dog’s performance, and appears in a post-show follow-up.
The owners and their dogs all arrive in time for the show, which is hosted by dog expert Trevor Beckwith (Jim Piddock), and oblivious “color” commentator Buck Laughlin (Fred Willard). During the first round, Beatrice is disqualified when Hamilton cannot control her, but the other four dogs advance to the final round. Just before the finals, Cookie dislocates her knee and insists that Gerry take over for her. Though the audience is initially awed by seeing Gerry’s “two left feet” (the result of a birth defect), ultimately Winky takes Best in Show.
Director: Christopher Guest
Writers: Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy
Stars: Fred Willard, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Michael Hitchcock, Parker Posey, Christopher Guest
Cast:
| 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 |
| Jehshua Barnes | … | Scott’s Wild Date |
| Patrick Cranshaw | … | Leslie Ward Cabot |
| Jennifer Coolidge | … | Sherri Ann Cabot |
| Don Lake | … | Graham Chissolm |
| Scott Williamson | … | Winky’s Party Guest |
| Deborah Theaker | … | Winky’s Party Guest |
| Rachael Harris | … | Winky’s Party Guest |
| Jane Lynch | … | Christy Cummings |
| Fulvio Cecere | … | Airport Passerby |
| Linda Kash | … | Fay Berman |
| Larry Miller | … | Max Berman |
| Ed Begley Jr. | … | Hotel Manager |
| Cody Greg | … | Zach Berman |
| Teryl Rothery | … | Philly AM Host |
| Tony Alcantar | … | Philly AM Chef |
| Camille Sullivan | … | Philly AM Assistant |
| Dave Cameron | … | Philly AM Host |
| Lynda Boyd | … | Cabot Party Guest |
| Madeleine Kipling | … | Cabot Party Guest |
| Merrilyn Gann | … | Cabot Party Guest |
| Andrew Johnston | … | Cabot Party Guest |
| Malcolm Stewart | … | Malcolm |
| Jay-Lyn Green | … | Leslie’s Nurse |
| Fred Willard | … | Buck Laughlin |
| Jim Piddock | … | Trevor Beckwith |
| Earlene Luke | … | Mayflower Hound Judge |
| Carmen Aguirre | … | Taft Hotel Maid |
| Harold Pybus | … | Mayflower Toy Judge |
| Hiro Kanagawa | … | Pet Shop Owner |
| Cleo A. Laxton | … | Mayflower Terrier Judge |
| Corrine Koslo | … | Mayflower Sporting Judge |
| Andrew Wheeler | … | Mayflower Ring Steward |
| Don Emslie | … | Mayflower Non-Sporting Judge |
| Don S. Davis | … | Mayflower Best in Show Judge |
| Steven M. Porter | … | Bulge |
| Melanie Angel | … | ‘American Bitch’ Photo Editor |
| Doane Gregory | … | Terry the Photographer |
| Can. Ch. Arokat’s Echobar Take Me Dancing | … | ‘Beatrice’ the Weimaraner |
| Can. Ch. Urchin’s Bryllo | … | ‘Winky’ the Norwich Terrier |
| Ch. Quiet Creek’s Stand By Me | … | ‘Hubert’ the Bloodhound |
| Can. Ch. Raptures Classic | … | ‘Miss Agnes’ the Shih Tzu |
| Can. Ch. Symarun’s Red Hot Kisses | … | ‘Tyrone’ the Shih Tzu |
| Brocade Exclamation | … | Rhapsody in White the Standard Poodle |
| Can. Ch. Exxel Dezi Duz It With Pizaz | … | Rhapsody in White the Standard Poodle |
| Fred Keating | … | Jack |
| Peter Kelamis | … | Bartender |
| Patrick Stark | … | Beauty Salon Transvestite |
| Greg Anthony | … | Dog Grommer |
| Ian Alexander Martin | … | V.I.P. |
| Steven Pollard | … | Recording Engineer |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia