Best in Show [Blu-ray]

Director: Christopher Guest Christopher Guest

Overview

After parodying the idiosyncrasies of community theater devotees in the mock documentary Waiting for Guffman, actor/director Christopher Guest returns with another semi-improvised comedy that casts a satirical gaze on the world of championship dog breeding and training. A television crew is on hand to document the prestigious Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show, and competition is fierce among the canine devotees vying for top honors. Salesman Gerry Fleck (Eugene Levy), who is cursed with two left feet (literally), and his wife Cookie (Catherine O'Hara) have entered their Norwich terrier "Winky" in competition. Wealthy and neurotic Meg Swan (Parker Posey) and her husband Hamilton (Michael Hitchcock) are on hand with their Weimaraner "Beatrice," who they fear may have been traumatized by watching them have sex. Scott Donlan (John Michael Higgins) and his life partner Stefan Vanderhoof (Michael McKean) have brought their beloved Shih Tzu, "Miss Agnes." Trophy wife Sherri Ann Cabot (Jennifer Coolidge) and her close friend and trainer Christy Cummings (Jane Lynch) are hoping for a repeat victory for Sheri's poodle, "Rhapsody In White." And Harlan Pepper (Guest), who operates a store specializing in fly-fishing gear, has decided to stack his bloodhound "Hubert" up against the competition. In addition to Guest, Levy, O'Hara, and Posey, several other veterans of the Waiting for Guffman cast also appear in Best in Show, including Fred Willard, Bob Balaban, and Lewis Arquette.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/19/2013
UPC:	0883929266043
Original Release:	2000
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	Warner Home Video
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:30:00
Sales rank:	15,568

Special Features

Commentary by director/cowriter Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy; Deleted scenes; Theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Christopher Guest	Harlan
Parker Posey	Meg
Michael Hitchcock	Hamilton
Eugene Levy	Gerry
Catherine O'Hara	Cookie
John Michael Higgins	Scott
Michael McKean	Stefan
Bob Balaban	Dr. Millbank
Fred Willard	Buck
Patrick Cranshaw	Leslie
Jennifer Coolidge	Sheri
Jane Lynch	Christy
Jim Piddock	Trevor
Ed Begley Jr.	Hotel Manager
Don Lake	Graham Chissolm
Jay Brazeau	Dr. Chuck Nelken
Linda Kash	Fay Berman
Larry Miller	Max Berman,Fishin' Hole Guy
Cody Greg	Zach Berman
Carrie Aizley	Fern City Show Spectator
Lewis Arquette	Fern City Show Spectator
Dany Canino	Fern City Show Judge
Will Sasso	Fishin' Hole Guy
Colin Cunningham	New York Butcher
Teryl Rothery	Philly AM Host
Tony Alcantar	Philly AM Chef
Camille Sullivan	Phlly AM Assistant
Dave Cameron	Philly AM Host
Malcolm Stewart	Malcolm
Jay-Lyn Green	Leslie's Nurse
Jehshua Barnes	Scott's Wild Date
Earlene Luke	Mayflower Hound Judge
Harold Pybus	Mayflower Toy Judge
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
Steve Porter	Bulge
Melanie Angel	`American Bitch' Photo Editor
Doane Gregory	Terry the Photographer
Hiro Kanagawa	Pet Shop Owner
Scott Williamson	Winky's Party Guest
Deborah Theaker	Winky's Party Guest
Rachael Harris	Winky's Party Guest
Fulvio Cecere	Airport Passerby
Lynda Boyd	Cabot Party Guest
Madeleine Kipling	Cabot Party Guest
Merrilyn Gann	Cabot Party Guest
Andrew Johnston	Cabot Party Guest
Vanston C. J.	Composer
Jeffery Vanston	Composer

Technical Credits

Christopher Guest

Eugene Levy

Christopher Guest	Director,Screenwriter
Eugene Levy	Screenwriter
Stuart Aikins	Casting
David Alexander	Stunts
Gord Davis	Special Effects
Gordon Mark	Executive Producer,Producer
Karen Murphy	Producer
Mark Weingarten	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

One-time star and co-writer of the greatest mockumentary of all, This Is Spinal Tap (1983), actor and director Christopher Guest creates this wickedly funny and intelligent character comedy with a cast of sublimely talented improvisational performers. Following up his well-received Waiting for Guffman (1996), Guest returns to the well of the little-used faux-documentary genre with splendid results, creating a comedy that is, if anything, even tighter, more focused, and funnier than his previous effort. It's interesting to note that, while many directors attempt to make improvisational-style films, those who succeed are almost always former writers such as Guest and James Toback. An improvised film is typically one wherein plot is sacrificed at the altar of character, and so rises and falls on the success of its performances. Best in Show is no exception to this rule, and the film's quality is a testament to actors typically cast in character parts finally getting a chance to shine at center stage, such as Michael McKean, co-writer Eugene Levy, and the seemingly ubiquitous independent film star Parker Posey. Best in Show was a sizable box-office hit in limited release and earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Comedy.

All Movie Guide - Karl Williams

"Best in Show" reunites many of the same brilliant comic actors who appeared in Mr. Guest's last movie, the cult comedy classic "Waiting for Guffman." .... As before, the actors improvising from a bare-bones screenplay (by Mr. Guest and Eugene Levy) riff off one another like jazz musicians to create what may be the cleverest on-the-spot caricatures since the heyday of Mike Nichols and Elaine May. ...The movie's weaknesses are inextricable from its form. For "Best in Show" is essentially a well-organized, exquisitely nuanced skit comedy, "Saturday Night Live"-style sketches loosely stitched together and refined to the nth degree. Although the movie pretends to have narrative structure, it doesn't really go much of anywhere. It is futile to look for deeper patterns in this kind of storytelling. The whole point is to savor the moments. This comic jigsaw puzzle is crammed with deliriously funny little bits.

New York Times - Stephen Holden