Best in Show (2000)

No dogs were harmed during the making of this film. In fact, never has there ever been a film where dogs stayed so stoic in the face of a ton of foolishness. Best in Show, while on the surface a Christopher Guest mockumentary about competitive dog owners and over-the-top prestigious dog pageants, makes a particular comment on humans in comparison to animals. The humans make stupid decisions, overreact at things that don't matter, argue, scream and fight tooth and claw to win the blue ribbon, while the Dogs sit peacefully, seemingly unaware, or totally aware and choosing to ignore it.

Best in Show is a hilarious movie. The entire time, I had a big smile on my face. Guest has a knack for taking average situations and dissecting every peculiar aspect to poke fun of. He also knows the effortlessly unique qualities of middle Americans and how funny they actually are. Yes, these are seasoned improv comics portraying middle Americans, but in everyday life, you've seen these kind of people before. Take for instance, Harlan Pepper (played by Christopher Guest), a southerner who owns a fishing bait/tackle shop and talks incessantly about what he knows including every kind of nut in existence. Or, how about my personal favorite, the Flecks. Cookie Fleck (played by Catherine O'Hara) is the dutiful wife of Gerry Fleck, whose apparently slept with hundreds of men, quite literally, in fact, every man who comes in contact with her recognizes her. Her husband, Gerry Fleck (played by Eugene Levy) is the perpetual cuckold with two left feet, big bucked teeth and midwestern "aw-shucks" sensibility that everyone around him, especially his own wife, takes advantage of. Eugene Levy is the runaway stealer of the entire show. He's laugh-out-loud funny without even trying to be. He's the most natural improv comic in that he's entirely real in his delivery and knows how to react to awkward situation as we all would.

Best in Show is less about the dog's competing, as it is about the people. Guest puts them on display for us to decide who receives the blue ribbon. But dog lovers won't be disenfranchised, as the film proudly displays it's affection for these perfect creatures and how they never leave the side of their owners no matter how flawed they might be.