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Pseudo-documentary written and directed by Christopher Guest follows the goofy adventures of goofy owners of dogs headed to the Mayflower Dog Show in Philadelphia. Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara star as a seemingly mismatched couple (he has 2 left feet, she's a slut) who own a cutie Norwich Terrier. Parker Posey and Michael Hitchcock star as a neurotic yuppie couple who own an engaging but equally neurotic Weimaraner. Jennifer Coolidge plays an overeating, over-made up socialite married to a very old man, who owns the defending champion dog, a female Standard Poodle nicknamed Butch who is handled by a butch played by Jane Lynch. Michael McKean and John Michael Higgins are an effeminate couple who own a Shih Tzu. And finally, Christopher Guest is a southern good old boy with a bloodhound.

The movie quickly establishes its quirky characters while the dogs' eyes and faces give the viewer the "awwww" factor. The actors keep the characters real without going completely over the top or becoming caricatures. Plenty of giggles and laughs scattered throughout the film without the excess cruelty or vulgarity that is abundant in a lot of today's films. We are laughing at the situations and with the victims and not at them. At only 90 minutes long, it makes its points quickly and is able to make you care about the dogs and owners. Add Fred Wlllard as the boorish uninformed TV Announcer and Jay Piddock as his proper British straight man, their Abbott and Costello quality make this movie a winner.

My Grade - a solid A
It is my favorite movie of 2000.

Rated PG-13 for sexual situations and language.

More Grades

O' Hara..........A+ (wow for looks and acting)

Levy..........A (klutzy best)

The dogs.........A+

Ed Begley jr ........B- (not much to do as the harried Front Desk manager)

Direction by Guest.........A (Altman like without being preachy)

Willard.......A+ (manages to steal the show from the dogs)

Baha Men's Who let the dogs out....not in this film



"I don't get tough with anyone Mr. Gittes. My lawyer does."
---Faye Dunaway.....~CHINATOWN~