REEL CRITICS

Maybe, like myself, during channel-surfing one evening you happened

upon the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show held in New York

and were captivated enough to watch at least some, if not all, of the

proceedings.

Did you wonder what kind of dog that one was? Or that one? I’m still

perplexed by the one resembling a buoyant school mop. Well, you know the

rest. But, what if you didn’t see the best part of the show? The one

concealed behind the scenes.

“Best in Show,” filmed with a documentary approach, follows five

canine entrants and their respective owners through the fictitious

Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show, where unlike the Westminster Dog Show,

the focus is disengaged from the dogs.

This time, it’s the owners and not their canine companions that are

pedigreed to perfection.

As an actor, writer and director, Christopher Guest embraces the

mockumentary form: He portrayed the lead guitarist in “This is Spinal

Tap” and his first directorial effort was “Waiting for Guffman.” “Best in

Show,” co-written with Eugene Levy, is comedy candy, bite after bite

filled with delectable laughter.

Once again, Guest utilizes a 15-page outline -- sans dialogue -- and

an extremely talented ensemble cast to produce 60 hours of

improvisational footage, which has been craftily edited to a mere 90

minutes. The dynamism of this character-driven satire is the embellished

performances -- campy yet convincing -- used to enhance hackneyed

stereotypes. They’re fresh and hilarious.

Our first competitor is Winky, a Norwich terrier from Fern City, Fla.,

coddled by mild-mannered, bucktoothed Gerry Fleck (Eugene Levy) and his

wife, Cookie (Catherine O’Hara). And yes folks, Gerry does have two left

feet.

Entered in the hound group is Hubert, a bloodhound owned and trained

by Harlan Pepper (Christopher Guest). Harlan, a fly-fisherman from Pine

Nut, N.C., is currently trying to master the ancient art of

ventriloquism.

Beatrice, a slightly neurotic Weimaraner is up next. Her yuppie,

designer-wearing, anxiety-ridden, overprotective owners, Meg (Parker

Posey) and Hamilton Swan (Michael Hitchcock) flank her, threatening to

file suit against anyone in their way.

Then there’s the flagrantly gay couple played to perfection by Michael

McKean (“This is Spinal Tap”) and John Michael Higgins who pamper their

Shih Tzu, Miss Anges. Not to mention the wealthy and elderly Leslie Ward

Cabot (Patrick Cranshaw) and his much younger wife, Sherri Ann (Jennifer

Coolidge), the proud owners of two-time champion Rhapsody in White, a

standard poodle.

Providing colorful but rarely insightful commentary are Jim Piddock as

a reserved, scholarly Brit and Fred Willard as the acerbic,

sports-spewing, I-know-nothing-about-dogs-and-I-don’t-care Buck Laughlin.

Reminiscent of an original “Saturday Night Live” festival in which the

viewing audience is bombarded by scene after scene after scene of comedic

sketches; “Best in Show” is nonstop laughter.

Unfortunately it’s only showing in a few theaters scattered throughout

Orange County. Take my lead. If you’re hunting for bona fide laughs,

“Best in Show” is a winner.

“Best in Show” is rated PG-13 for language and sex-related material.

* JULIE LOWRANCE, 40, is a Costa Mesa resident who works at a Newport

Beach overnight aircraft advertising agency.