Best in Show

Best in Show has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in Australia on HBO Max. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. With 681 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Bob Balaban is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Start it on HBO Max whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

There is a reason Best in Show keeps coming up in conversation. The jokes in Best in Show land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. The tension is palpable, the excitement is mounting and the heady scent of competition is in the air as hundreds of eager contestants from across America prepare to take part in what is undoubtedly one of the greatest events of their lives -- the Mayflower Dog Show. The canine contestants and their owners are as wondrously diverse as the great country that has bred them. Bob Balaban and Jennifer Coolidge lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2000. The timing in Best in Show is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Best in Show is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Bob Balaban is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.