 | 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. |
Best in Show
- Review Date: May 19, 2003
- PG-13
- Genre: Comedy
- 2000
Common Sense Media says
Hilarious and offbeat but humor is pretty grownup.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie contains strong language, sexual references, same-sex kissing, and adultery. Most teens won't be too interested in the material.
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.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why the awards are so important to the dog owners. Who sets up the standards for judging these dogs, and why? Talk about the way the different couples communicate and resolve differences with each other. Which ways are healthiest? Can you tell anything about a character by his or her choice of dog?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
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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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
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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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!
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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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AGE
Funny for pre teens 12+
Very funny, hilarious, worth it.
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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.
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Kid, 12 years old
January 8, 2011
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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