Review of Best in Show (2000) by Annonymous M — 28 Mar 2010

Other reviews of Best In Show have cited this effort as more tightly focused and funnier than Waiting for Guffman. That could be a matter of perspective. True, Best In Show zeros in on the quirks and neuroses (to varying degrees) of these dog owners and their pets, and their centralized goal of winning a dog show likely accentuates those quirks, which may or may not be exaggerated though characteristic of dog show competitors anyway. Guffman may have seemed more unfocused because it was, by its nature, more madcap, since community theater aficionados may just be a bit more self-serving and less focused on their common goal than dog-show trainers hoping for notoriety for their pets, who, it is clear, are like their owners' children.

Nevertheless, Best In Show is wacky fun in the best tradition of this "mockumentary" concept. The performers are all hilarious and clearly more comfortable with their improvisational motif and each other this time around. Plus, this film put the hilarious Jane Lynch on the map and may be the single most recommendable reason to watch this film (other than the dogs, if you love dogs). Her turn as alpha-female Cummings previews some of her work as Sue Sylvester on Glee but also contains that earnest, hard-nosed, squishy-middled comedic performance that she best offers.

All of the characters are great fun, though, including "color commentator" Fred Willard, who seems to say any random tidbit that comes to mind. The Swans may be the most hilarious entrants of the competition, particularly when they both have an epic breakdown after the loss of Beatrice's favorite toy, the "Busy Bee." Guest's Pepper may be the oddest character of the bunch, but his monologue about nuts is endearing.

What the viewer takes away from Best In Show, as with Waiting for Guffman, however, depends on what the viewer brought to the viewing experience to begin with. Dog-lovers are going to find this film hysterically funny because the characters' devotion to their animals is what is being championed here in that wacky, off-kilter, heartwarming way. Guffman and this film were made the same way, though Best In Show may have been operating on a slightly bigger budget, including the end-of-film "where are they now" segment, so it is clearly a matter of which subject tickles the viewer's funny bone more. Nevertheless, Best In Show is recommendable if you enjoy Christopher Guest's unique brand of humor, dogs, any of these actors, or the mockumentary concept because it is definitely funny.