Rotten Tomatoes has officially elected their greatest comedy of the 21st century, a mockumentary they hail as a flawless continuation of the genre Christopher Guest helped define with This Is Spinal Tap.
Best in Show (2000) follows a series of eccentric dog owners as they prepare to compete in the prestigious Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show. As the handlers unravel under pressure, the dogs remain the calm centre of chaos, acting as straight men to the absurdities of their human counterparts.
Eugene Levy plays Gerry Fleck, a mild-mannered husband with two left feet and a pronounced overbite, while Catherine O’Hara stars as his ever-supportive wife Cookie.
Meanwhile, Jane Lynch delivers a standout turn as an overly intense dog trainer, and Parker Posey steals scenes as a neurotic professional with a short fuse.
The comedy only escalates when Fred Willard arrives as commentator Buck Laughlin. His stream of baffling one-liners and improvised observations turn the competition coverage into one of the most quoted segments of the film.
Much of the humour stems from improvisation, with Guest encouraging his cast to expand on their characters in unscripted exchanges – a technique that gives the movie a natural and authentic rhythm despite its heightened absurdity.
Critics have long noted that the brilliance of Best in Show lies not just in its laughs, but in how it manages to turn caricatures into surprisingly sympathetic characters. The film’s mockumentary format captures the quirks and insecurities of its ensemble while keeping the audience invested in the stakes of the show.
Audience reactions on Rotten Tomatoes echo this acclaim. One fan declared: “Easily one of my all time favorite movies. So many funny, quotable lines. The entire cast is outstanding and Fred Willard is a damn genius.” Another described it as “a masterclass in comedic improvisation, growing funnier with each viewing.”
Others placed it among the all-time greats, with one reviewer writing: “This is one of the funniest movies ever. Definitely in my Top 10 favourite movies of all time. Fred Willard is just brilliant! All of the actors are great in it and the fact that most of the script is improvised is so impressive.”
Another praised its intelligence, saying: “I actually think this might be the funniest movie ever made, right there with This Is Spinal Tap and Waiting For Guffman. I think the film does require some intellect from the viewer though.”
Best in Show is available to stream on Apple TV.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk