Comedy
United States of America
Best in Show is a mockumentary-style comedy film that follows the lives of several eccentric and highly competitive dog owners as they prepare to compete in the Mayflower Dog Show. The film is directed by Christopher Guest and features an ensemble cast including Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey, and Christopher Guest himself.
Each owner has their own quirks and peculiarities, from Gerry and Cookie Fleck (Levy and O'Hara), a middle-aged couple who run a busy pet shop and have an overbearing love for their terrier, to Meg Swan (Posey), a neurotic and competitive yuppie who tends to project her own insecurities onto her beloved Weimaraner.
Other memorable characters include Harlan Pepper (Guest), a jovial and slightly befuddled hick who loves his bloodhound more than anything in the world, and the uptight and snobbish Scott Donlan (John Michael Higgins) and Stefan Vanderhoof (Michael McKean), a gay couple who have matching Shih Tzus and a love for musical theater.
Throughout the film, we follow these characters as they travel to the Mayflower Dog Show in Philadelphia, where they compete to take home the coveted Best in Show trophy. As they navigate the tension-filled world of dog shows, the characters' flaws and foibles are front and center, providing plenty of laughs and cringe-worthy moments.
Best in Show received critical acclaim upon its release in 2000, with many praising the film's hilarious performances and deadpan humor. Its legacy has endured over the years, and it remains a beloved classic of the mockumentary genre.
