What’s Aged the Best?
Ensemble chemistry; pet-owner satire; Busy Bee; Rhapsody’s loss
In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:49:45Read transcript
- Mockumentary filmmaking is an aged-best choice; its scarcity is attributed to the difficulty of sustaining good improvisation rather than lack of influence on Apatow-era comedy.
- Everything is initially judged to have aged well, especially the satire of pet owners, whose social-media behavior now rivals parody.
- The film is credited with increasing interest in dog shows, compared with spelling-bee documentaries and Rounders’ poker influence.
- O’Hara and Levy’s enduring chemistry, the Swans’ yuppie caricature, Scott and the mismatched broadcast booth are singled out as aged-best elements.
- Rhapsody’s upset loss, Busy Bee’s outsized importance and the dog treadmill are additional aged-best choices.
- Levy’s uncomfortable teeth and crossed-eye commitment are praised.
- The hotel rock-band story is identified as a Spinal Tap callback, and Begley’s attempt to sell the utility closet as accommodation is praised.
- The AM Philadelphia broadcaster and the Swans’ elaborate coffee orders are aged-best details.