Best in Show
- Review Date: May 18, 2003
- PG-13
- Genre: Comedy
- 2000
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Common Sense Media says
Hilarious and offbeat, but humor is pretty grownup.
 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Best in Show is a hilarious but very dry mockumentary about the dog-show world will likely bore kids. There is some cursing, including a notable scene where a father threatens his son with horrific violence and calls him a "freak." One character is depicted as having been promiscuous in her past, and many men come on to her in social situations using coarse language ("I banged a lotta waitresses in my time"), to the consternation of this character's husband. Several characters in the cast are depicted as being gay and there is a very passionate surprise kiss between two female characters who later proclaim each other "dynamite in the sack." This one's best for adults and teens who enjoy dry absurdity, and anyone who has a show dog or is interested in the dog show world.
What's the story?
Director Christopher Guest takes on people who participate in dog shows in this mockumentary. Married uptight lawyers the Swans (Parker Posey and Michael Hitchcock) own a neurotic Weimaraner named Beatrice, who just hasn't been the same since she saw them having sex. Cookie Fleck (Catherine O'Hara), is a woman with a ribald past who owns Norwich terrier and is married to a man with, literally, two left feet (Eugene Levy). Stefan and Scott (Michael McKean and John Michael Higgins) are a happy couple and the owners of an adorable Shih Tzu. Sherri Ann is a trophy wife and the owner of the reigning champ. Her dog's trainer (Cristy Cummings) handles more than the dog. Guest himself plays a Southern bait-and-tackle store owner with a bloodhound. And Fred Willard appears as the hopelessly untalented announcer.
Is it any good?
Fans of offbeat humor will get a big kick out of this follow-up to Waiting for Guffman, but there will be more appreciative, "Oh, that's funny!" comments than outright laughs. Director Christopher Guest has a repertory company of top-notch improvisational actors. He outlines the story to each of them and then pretty much lets them create their own characters and dialogue. This gives his movies a wonderful sense of depth, as it really seems that we are getting brief glimpses of real characters who are just as interesting when the camera isn't on them. But it also means that the humor tends to come from small moments and from character rather than from jokes.
Catherine O'Hara is a delight as Cookie Fleck, and one of the movie's best running jokes is that almost everyone Cookie meets rapturously recalls some past encounter with her. Jennifer Coolidge is sensational as a cross between Lady Macbeth and Anna Nicole Smith.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the style of this movie. What is a mockumentary? What exactly is this movie mocking? What kind of humor do the actors use?
Where else have you seen these actors? Do they always play the same kinds of roles? What sets many of these actors apart from Hollywood stars?
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
Great movie for adults
Too sophisticated for kids. The movie mocks all kinds of human foibles. It takes maturity beyond mid-teens to understand that the humor is directed at all of us, not the particular types -- gay, handicapped, repressed, southern, old, yuppie -- portrayed.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
Funny for pre teens 12+
Very funny, hilarious, worth it.
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Teen, 14 years old
February 27, 2010
AGE
Funny mockumentary
I haven't seen many mockumentarys (like "Borat" or "District 9") but I do watch "The Office" regurlarly so I know when they're making fun of something, sort of satire like "Tropic Thunder." I'm glad to say it was very funny, and I recently saw a real dog show on TV, and their impressions of the eccentric trainers were spot-on!
What other families should know:
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Adult
April 5, 2009
AGE
Excellent, Hilarious Mocumentary
Best In Show is HILARIOUS, but not appropriate or understandable for kids under 15 or 16. There are several inappropriate sexual references (an awkward discussion of a couple's sex life)(a married woman who meets several ex-boyfriends who make sexual comments about her, making her husband very uncomfortable) (several french kisses between straight and same-sex couples). Role models are iffy. Some are good and sweet, while others are neurotic and unkind. The humor is excellent for those old enough to appreciate it. Best for mature teenagers and adults.
What other families should know:
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Teen, 17 years old
March 21, 2009
AGE
pure flippin hilarity
I cant lie-this movies one of the funniest ive ever seen! but the portrayal of gay characters is a little excessive. not too bad with the language though.
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Teen, 15 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Hilarious!
Good for kids 13+
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Teen, 13 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
You said...
"Positive portrayal of gay characters" is iffy.
I don't see what is wrong with this. Social behavior may be iffy for other reasons, but for positive portrayal of gays? I don't believe that that is a bad thing.
The movie isn't good for kids, but not because of the gays.
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Teen, 15 years old
February 21, 2010
AGE
Great for 12 and up
This is one of the best movies ever made. Hilarious characters and plot line. It may be offensive to homophobics, but they live under a rock anyway.
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AGE
Best in Movies
This movie was another hit! My favorite parts were the clever and mildly outrageous humor hidden within it and of course, the witty Jane Lynch. Nothing explicit or crude that I can remember. So, great movie for tweens and teens!
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| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | Christopher Guest |
| Cast: | Jay Brazeau, Michael Hitchcock, Parker Posey |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 90 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | October 29, 2000 |
| DVD release date: | May 15, 2001 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | language and sex-related material. |
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