Home / Arts and Entertainment / Dog Show Mockumentary "Best in Show" Achieves Cult Classic Status
Dog Show Mockumentary "Best in Show" Achieves Cult Classic Status
4 Feb
Summary
- Best in Show film grossed $20 million at the box office.
- The mockumentary features an ensemble cast including Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara.
- The film follows five storylines leading up to the Mayflower Dog Show in Philadelphia.
Released in theaters on September 29, 2000, Christopher Guest's mockumentary "Best in Show" quickly garnered a devoted following. The film, which earned approximately $20 million in box office receipts, is celebrated for its sharp wit and ensemble cast.
At its core, "Best in Show" uses the backdrop of the Mayflower Dog Show in Philadelphia to explore the eccentricities of its human characters. The narrative is divided into five intertwined storylines, each focusing on a unique set of dog owners and their pets.
Featured are neurotic yuppies with a troubled Weimaraner, a menswear salesman and his bubbly wife with a Norwich terrier, a gay couple with a pampered Shih Tzu, a handler preparing a champion standard poodle, and a "good ol' boy" with a bloodhound he believes has telepathic abilities.
The film humorously contrasts the often frantic behavior of the owners with the cool demeanor of their dogs. Guest employs a pseudodocumentary style, with actors in character addressing the camera in interviews that reveal their personalities and wit.
Costumes by Monique Prudhomme significantly contribute to the comedic effect, offering visual cues about the characters. The supporting cast includes memorable roles for Ed Begley Jr., Bob Balaban, Fred Willard, and Jim Piddock, adding further layers of humor.
