Best in Show - A Movie Review

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"Best in Show" was released in 2000 and is a mockumentary comedy film co-written by Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy. It was directed by Christopher Guest who also appears as Harlan Pepper. Guest is also responsible for movies featuring much of the same cast: "Waiting for Guffman", "For Your Consideration", "Spinal Tap" and "A Mighty Wind". CAST Eugene Levy - Gerry Fleck Catherine O'Hara - Cookie Fleck Norwich Terrier - Winky Jennifer Coolidge - Sherri Ann Cabot Patrick Cranshaw - Leslie Ward Cabot Standard Poodle - Rhapsody in White (a.k.a. Butch) Parker Posey - Meg Swan Michael Hitchcock - Hamilton Swan Weimaraner - Beatrice Christopher Guest - Harlan Pepper Bloodhound - Hubert John Michael Higgins - Scott Donlan Michael McKean - Stefan Vanderhoof Shih Tzu - Miss Agnes Jane Lynch - Christy Cummings Larry Miller - Max Berman Jim Piddock - Trevor Beckwith Fred Willard - Buck Laughlin Ed Begley, Jr. - Hotel Manager A documentary crew follows five entrants that are heading for the Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The entrants are interviewed at various points along their journey. Gerry and Cookie Fleck are a middle-aged couple from Florida who arrive at the Taft Hotel in Philadelphia without enough money to pay for a room. The Hotel Manager lets them sleep in the hotel storage room. Gerry Fleck has two left feet...literally. Sherri Ann and Leslie Ward Cabot are an unlikely couple. She's a trophy wife and he's her sugar daddy. Rhapsody in White is a two-time past winner. Meg and Hamilton Swan are an upper-class, neurotic, yuppie couple from Chicago. They are convinced that Beatrice needs therapy, especially after seeing them have sex. They nearly lose it at the show when Beatrice's toy, Busy Bee, ends up missing. Harlan Pepper is from North Carolina and owns a fishing equipment store. He's a laid-back guy who is an aspiring ventriloquist and likes to name nuts. Scott Donlan and Stefan Vanderhoof are a gay couple from Tribeca who like old movies and making fun of Christy Cummings (the Cabots' trainer for Rhapsody in White). Trevor Beckwith is the host of the dog show and the dog expert. Buck Laughlin is the "color commentator" for the dog show who works with Beckwith. MY OPINION I love all of Christopher Guest's movies; but this is my favorite. I also I love the same actors that follows him from movie to movie. Much of the dialogue in this movie was improvised by the great comedic cast. This movie is really funny and depicts, in mockumentary style, a typical dog show. I especially enjoyed the color commentary by the great Fred Willard who portrays Buck Laughlin. This is definitely a movie that you should add to your queue of movies to watch on a Saturday night. This movie is rated PG-13. Photo Credit: Pixabay