Christopher Guest is a comedic treasure. Not only does he know just how to "mockument" the truly mundane (in this case, the show-dogs and their weirdo owners) but his characters are always so run-of-the-mill yet bizarre; they're either out of touch or wacky Midwesterner; people you can't help but laugh at. With Best In Show, it feels like he's playing that to the hilt and I think it's my favorite movie of his as a result

This is an ensemble cast in the best sense, a group of people perfectly at home with the material -- clumsy, ordinary and awkward -- yet they utter some of the most ridiculous things. I don't think I could stand to be around any of these people, but they kept me in stitches the entire time. The only person I can really single out is Fred Willard, and it's because (I have no doubt) he was let loose as the competition's sportscaster and improv'd the whole thing. The guy doesn't let up!

As with the "Waiting for Guffman" DVD, there are a good many deleted scenes to sift through on "Best in Show" (clocking in at nearly 30 minutes), most of which are pretty damn funny. After watching the film itself, I was left wondering why some weren't spliced into the finished product, since "Best" isn't nearly as good as "Guffman" or Christopher Guest's previous foray into 'mockumentaries,' "This is Spinal Tap." What we're left with is a fitfully funny, faux behind-the-scenes look at dog competitions with characters that lack the authenticity of the small-town performers in "Guffman" and the washed-up metalheads of "Tap"--these people (down to Eugene Levy's 2 left feet and Parker Posey's braces) smack of artificiality. While the film is funny and ultimately satisfying for fans of Guest's observational brand of humor, I found myself smiling more than laughing at "Best in Show."