'BEST IN SHOW' A CHAMPION 'MOCKUMENTARY'.

Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Critic

Given its outstanding pedigree, it isn't much of a surprise that ``Best in Show'' qualifies as a champion comedy. Writer-director-actor Christopher Guest has reassembled the cast members that made the small-town theater spoof ``Waiting for Guffman'' and turned them loose on the world of dog shows. The result is every bit as funny as you would hope.

Guest has worked with the ``mockumentary'' format before, always with spectacular results. His first effort came in Rob Reiner's legendary and recently re-released ``This Is Spinal Tap,'' in which he played perpetually bemused guitarist Nigel Tufnell. He then wrote and directed and starred in ``Waiting for Guffman,'' playing an outlandish small-town theater director with outsized designs on Broadway.

``Best in Show'' isn't quite in the same class as the earlier films. The storylines and characters aren't as rich, nor do they come together at the end in a manner that is as satisfying. But when a movie has as many on- target jokes as this one does, such quibbles aren't all that important.

The film's dog owners are typical Guest creations, totally lacking a trace of self-awareness. Guest has always skirted the line between satire and snobbery, and he does so again here. The characters are so lovingly played by the cast, however, that it's possible to laugh at their foibles and still leave the theater with a good taste in your mouth.

The movie follows several dog owners, all of whom have one ultimate goal: to win the ``best in show'' award at the prestigious Mayflower Dog Show, which the filmmakers have perfectly modeled after the grandaddy of dog events, the Westminster Show.

Among the canine crazies: a yuppie couple (Parker Posey and Michael Hitchcock) who transfer their own neuroses onto their Weimaraner; a mild-mannered husband with (literally) two left feet (Levy) who, along the way, discovers that his wife (Catherine O'Hara) has a pretty colorful sexual past; a fly fisherman, would-be ventriloquist (Guest); a gay couple (Michael McKean and John Michael Higgins) in love with each other and their Shih Tzus; and a top-notch dog handler (Jane Lynch) who has strong feelings for her canine charge and its voluptuous owner (Jennifer Coolidge).

And once the show begins, we're treated to the observations of commentators Buck Laughlin (Fred Willard) and Trevor Beckwith (Jim Piddock). Willard is priceless playing an amiably inane broadcaster (Joe Garagiola anyone?) who never lets discretion get in the way of an observation. (Example: ``It's sad to look at how beautiful these dogs are when you realize that in some countries they are eaten.'')

That line sums up Guest's genius: comedy with plenty of bark and bite. If we had tails, they'd be wagging.

``BEST IN SHOW''

(Rated: PG-13 for language and sex-related material.)

The stars: Christopher Guest, Parker Posey, Michael Hitchcock, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Michael McKean, John Michael Higgins, Fred Willard, Jim Piddock, Jennifer Coolidge, Jane Lynch, Bob Balaban. Behind the scenes: Directed by Christopher Guest; screenplay by Guest and Levy. Released by Castle Rock Entertainment. Running time: One hour, 30 minutes. Playing: Laemmle's Sunset 5 in West Hollywood; Cineplex Odeon Broadway Cinemas in Santa Monica. Our rating: Three and one half stars

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Michael McKean, left, and John Michael Higgins plan to enter their prized Shih Tzus in a kennel club show in ``Best in Show.''