Sunday, September 10, 2000

One of the Best In Show

By BOB THOMPSON

Toronto Sun

Funny and nice often live in two different showbiz worlds, but Catherine O'Hara has found a place for both. Her comedic abilities are underscored in Christopher Guest's spoof documentary, Best In Show. Her charm is evident in most things she does.

During promotional interviews yesterday, O'Hara, at home in her hometown, charmed her way through the day. At a morning press conference at the Park Hyatt Hotel, she sat beside SCTV buddy Eugene Levy, who co-wrote the picture with Guest. They were to the right of the rest of the cast. Sheepishly grinning at what appeared to be some private joke, O'Hara only spoke when she was spoken to. And she was, eventually.

Since Best In Show is a film spoof on dog shows and their owners, the obvious question was asked by an obvious reporter. 'Like, do you have a dog and what kind is it?' Guest, Levy and the others dutifully answered. But leave it to O'Hara to lighten the proceedings with a loopy response.

"My husband is allergic to airborne saliva," reported O'Hara, referring to her set designer husband Bo Welch. So they don't have dogs. "But we do have a lovely painting of a dog."

Such is the droll wit of the former Burnhamthorpe Collegiate grad, now L.A. mother of two and all-round good sport. The good news for Guest and company? O'Hara isn't the funniest thing in the movie. She is one of the funniest as Cookie Fleck from Fern City, Fla., tartish wife to mild-mannered menswear salesman Gerry (Levy), who own Winky, their prize Norwich Terrier.

Giving the Levy-O'Hara couple a good run for their comedy money is professional dog handler Scott Dolan (Michael Higgins) and longtime partner and hair salon owner Stefan Vanderhoof (Michael McKean). Comedy pros Jennifer Coolidge, Fred Willard, Parker Posey and Guest add to the mix, with hilarious improvisations and some scene-stealing moments.

In fact, Guest said his biggest problem was editing down all the funny bits to a workable 90 minutes. "It took me six months to edit 60 hours of film," reported director Guest.

O'Hara, who was in Levy and Guest's previous spoofy collaboration Waiting For Guffman, smiled sweetly when she heard that. She knows a compliment when she's given one.

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