A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Best in Show

Theatrical release: 2001

Details:

Michael Hitchcock

Parker Posey

Catherine O'Hara

Eugene Levy

Christopher Guest

Director: Christopher Guest

Score: 1/2

The Review: A fictional documentary (ala Rob Reiner's Spinal Tap, but not quite as funny) of the preparations for, and competition at, one of the (allegedly) most prestigious conformation dog shows in the US. Using a nom-de-chien and staged in Philadelphia, it is actually an amusing and pointedly accurate send-up of the Westchester Dog Show held annually in NYC at the Madison Square Garden. It follows the trials and tribulations, as well as the personal quirks and relationships, of a handful of competitors with various dog breeds: Hitchcock and Posey as manic yuppies with a neurotic Weimaraner (Posey is excellent and bitchy); O'Hara and Levy as a southern odd couple with a small Yorkshire terrier; a slow-talking redneck with a bloodhound (well-played by director Guest himself, but a very frustrating character); the requisite supporting cast of: the gay male couple; the aggressive female handler; the trophy wife dog owner; inane ring-side television commentary; etc. A pretty good parody.

Having traipsed around on the periphery of the "dog show world" for the past 20 years (my wife owns and shows dogs in conformation and performance competitions), all I can say is that this movie only begins to touch the surface of a weird and very strange lot of folks. If, after watching, you find this content too strange to consider, just think: the real dog show world is even more bizarre!

(6-Jan-02)

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