Best in Show *** (2000, Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara) – Classic Movie Review 1096

Co-writer/director Christopher Guest’s 2000 satirical comedy about dog-crazy folk taking their pets to a top pedigree show in Philadelphia is blunt and silly but still it has its funny moments. The subject’s a good one for simple satire but, sadly, a lot of hugely talented American comic performers have seen better days script-wise.

The marvellous Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara are by far the funniest of them as Gerry and Cookie Fleck, a car salesman and his frisky wife preparing their terrier, Winky, for the big day. Jennifer Coolidge and Jane Lynch are also funny as the owners of the two-time defending best in show, a poodle. And co-writer/director Guest makes sure he gets his laughs as a barking-mad bloodhound owner, Harlan Pepper. But John Michael Higgins and Michael McKean spoil the fun as an uncool OTT gay couple with a shih Tzu.

It’s a shame that Guest and Levy’s screenplay is dogged throughout with some naff lines that just aren’t funny, especially at the start. Yet Best in Show comes back with pedigree moments at the show itself, led by the big laughs from the hilarious arena commentators.

There is definitely some fun to be found here, but there are not enough good gags to fill the 90 minutes as it’s basically a one-joke movie. And it will probably offend dog lovers as well as gays, and, with its offensive stereotypes, caricatured performances and easy laughs, it will win no prizes.

Despite some clever performances and funny moments, this dog-eared comedy lacks any real bite and ends up being a little bit of a dog of a movie.

Parker Posey, Michael Hitchcock, Bob Balaban and Fred Willard also appear to funny effect.

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(C) Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Film Review 1096 derekwinnert.com