'Best in Show'
The Ringer's Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin, and Joanna Robinson love soup, the outdoors, snow peas, and Christopher Guest's 2000 comedy classic 'Best in Show,' with Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey, Fred Willard, Jennifer Coolidge, Jane Lynch, John Michael Higgins, Michael McKean, and Michael Hitchcock.
Cast
Eugene Levy as Jerry Fleck
Catherine O'Hara as Cookie Fleck
Michael McKean as Stefan Vanderhoof
John Michael Higgins as Scott Donlan
Christopher Guest as Harlan Pepper
Parker Posey as Meg Swan
Jennifer Coolidge as Sherri Ann Cabot
Jane Lynch as Christy Cummings
Fred Willard as Buck Laughlin
Jim Piddock as Trevor Beckwith
Larry Miller as Max
Ed Begley Jr. as Hotel Manager
Bob Balaban as Dr. Theodore W. Millbank III
Directed by: Christopher Guest
Written by: Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy
Notes
- 25th anniversary of the film.
- Budget of $10.8 million, grossed $20 million. Shot in 25 days, edited for a year from ~60 hours of footage.
- 16-page outline then heavily improvised. Filmed in Vancouver and LA (staged their own dog show since Westminster wouldn't cooperate).
- Christopher Guest's inspiration: a woman looked at his rescue dog with disgust and said 'What is that?'
- Parker Posey got actual braces for the role; Michael Hitchcock got special retainers made.
- Fred Willard was told not to research dogs at all for his role.
Categories
Quote from Rog's review:
“Wickedly funny mockumentary.”
Ebert gave it 3.5 stars.
- Bill: Jerry and Cookie's dinner with ex-boyfriend Max – the hostage negotiator threats, Eugene Levy's 'luscious melon breast' line.
- Mallory: Cookie's injury/limp during the show.
- Joanna: The Starbucks/catalogs scene (the Swans sharing their origin story).
The entire Starbucks/catalogs scene – being excited about meeting at Starbucks, being 'raised amongst catalogues.'
- Mockumentary as a form. Parodying crazy pet people (even more relevant with social media).
- Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy as a comedic duo (carried through to Schitt's Creek).
- The odd-couple broadcast booth (Fred Willard/Jim Piddock).
- Eugene Levy's physical commitment (teeth, cross-eyes).
Very little. Harlan Pepper's ventriloquism act is the weakest thread.
- Bill: Harlan Pepper – high usage rate for a solo character; Christopher Guest didn't edit himself down enough.
- Mallory: The ventriloquism act specifically.
Hamilton Swan (Michael Hitchcock) – dialing it to 99, though that's the point of the Swans.
- Patrick Cranshaw (Leslie Ward Cabot / Blue from 'Old School'). Also: Larry Miller, Bob Balaban.
- Craig argues the entire movie is the greatest 'that guy' movie ever.
- Christopher Guest: Yes, probably this movie.
- John Michael Higgins: Yes.
- Fred Willard: Possibly (though Fernwood Tonight was huge).
- Catherine O'Hara: No – 'Home Alone', Beetlejuice, Schitt's Creek all compete.
- Dog shows: Yes.
Tom Hanks could play Harlan Pepper or Hamilton Swan.
Spielberg.
Mallory: Stefan (McKean's role). Bill: Hamilton Swan.
Busy Bee (unanimous first pick). Also: the travelling quilt, the framed American Bitch magazine cover.
Even if you have two left feet, there's hope. Always have a backup of your pet's favorite toy.
Waiting for Guffman.
Catherine O'Hara for Best Supporting Actress (Mallory). Fred Willard for Best Supporting Actor (Bill and Craig).
Fred Willard (consensus) – most associated with the movie's legacy.
Cookie Fleck prequel; or a Cobra Kai-style sequel where Cookie and Jerry run the dog show.
Craig argues the entire movie is the greatest 'that guy' movie ever made.