(2000) Another mockumentary satire from Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy takes a look at showdog owners and their pets in the 125th annual Mayflower Dog Show in which 3000 canines compete for the blue ribbon.

High-strung attorneys Meg (Parker Posey) and her husband Hamilton Swan (Michael Hitchcock) of Moordale, Illinois, visit with a psychiatrist to deal with their Weimaramer's depression, the onset of which began after having witnessed "Mommy and Daddy" performing Congress of the Cow from the Kama Sutra.

In an interview in Fern City, Florida, Gerry (Eugene Levy) and Cookie Fleck (Catherine O'Hara) discuss their having first met at a dance. Gerry admits that Cookie was very popular, having "dozens of boyfriends." "Hundreds," she corrects him. Gerry was literally born with two left feet. Their mutt Winky is a scruffy little Norwich terrier.

The owner of The Fishin' Hole in Pinenut, NC, Harlan Pepper (Christopher Guest), sells fishing flies, bait, maps, and free advice. He also can name lots o' nuts. Harlan thinks his two-year-old prize bloodhound Hubert might communicate with the judges through telepathy in a manner similar to his own ventriloquism.

Scott Donlan (John Michael Higgins) and his partner Stefan Vanderhoof (Michael Mckean) from Tribeca, NY, are my choice for best of show. In preparing for their trip to Philadelphia with their Shih Tzu named Aggie, Scott packs six or seven kimonos. Aggie's mate Tyrone must remain at home; they call him with reassurance from their hotel room.

From the Cabot Mansion in Philadelphia, Leslie Ward Cabot (Patrick Cranshaw), an old geezer who doesn't speak a word, sits beside his loquacious, bosomy wife Sherri Ann (Jennifer Coolidge), owners of Rhapsody in White (aka Butch, who's actually a bitch), a standard poodle and two-time winner of Mayflower's best in show. Christy Cummings (Jane Lynch) is the Cabots' handler and Sherri Ann's dear friend.

The tradition of the Mayflower Dog Show in Philadelphia began in 1875 with its president (Bob Balaban), Dr Theodore Millbank III's ancestor, continuing to the present with strict, pure standards. MCing the competition is Graham Chissolm (Don Lake).

Not to be ignored is the Taft Hotel and its manager Mark Schaefer (Ed Begley Jr) where many of the contestants and their owners spend the two days. When Mr and Mrs Fleck arrive - having come from a visit with Max, one of Cookie's former flames, and his wife and retarded son, who after taking Winky to the top of the garage roof has to be coaxed down by his father, a professional hostage negotiator, who has just told Gerry, "They all jump," threatening to gouge out the boy's eyes if he doesn't get down - and discover their credit card is invalid for the $300 room charge, and they haven't nearly enough cash either, Mr Schaefer comes to their rescue, giving them permission to stay in the utility closet with its shelves full of cleaning products for the animals.

Sharing the microphone with the play-by-play are Trevor Beckwith (Jim Piddock), a knowledgeable British gentleman of much discretion, and the American moron Buck Laughlin (Fred Willard), who employs baseball analogies and asks his companion asinine questions.

All but one of the entrants above achieve a place among the final seven for the final round for best in show. Who will it be?

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Copyright © 2008 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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