Drop Dead Gorgeous (B or 3/4 stars)
My enjoyment of this movie, 'Drop Dead Gorgeous', directed by Michael Patrick Jann, may have a little something to do with my inexplicable fascination of beauty pageants going back almost 20 years. Is this a great film? No. But it's dry, wicked, & funny as Hell (for the most part). In the small Minnesota town of Mt. Rose, their annual beauty contest is being covered by a television crew. This movie plays out like a sort of documentary (or mockumentary) to expose the backstage politics, backstabbing, & other hootenannies that go on during rural pageants such as this one. To give you an idea of the film's framework, about 98% of the movie is filmed with a character talking to 'us'/the man filming the documentary.
Sponsored by Sarah Rose Cosmetics, Miss Mt. Rose will go on to compete in the statewide pageant with hopes of competing nationally. For each teen contestant, a win would mean getting out of their small town, and make a name for themselves. 9 girls are competing, but there are 2 clear frontrunners. The first is Becky Leeman (Denise Richards), member of the town's richest family, & daughter of former Miss Mt. Rose, Gladys Leeman (Kirstie Alley). Becky is a poised beauty, for sure, but she's also spoiled, bitchy, and as ruthless as her conniving mother. They aim to win at ALL costs. The 2nd frontrunner is Amber Atkins (Kirsten Dunst), a traditional blonde beauty who lives in a trailer park & has dreams of being a news anchor like her idol, Diane Sawyer. By winning, Amber would also make her loving, but perpetually drunk mother (Ellen Barkin) proud. But can she wade through the many dangers that this pageant presents? These dangers include exploding tractors, falling stage lights, trailer fires, & stolen pageant dresses. If Amber makes it through the end of this pageant unscathed, it'll be a miracle.
I wouldn't say 'DDG' is laugh out loud funny; it's a more of an "acknowledgment-of-deadpan/witty-humor" ... funny. And even though most of the humor is based upon laughing at someone's expense, the humor is both clever & quirky enough that you don't feel so bad. 'DDG' is littered with wicked lines of dialogue, and they are delivered knowingly by a fine ensemble cast. Kirsten Dunst, who I normally dislike, gives a tongue-in-cheek, aw-shucks performance that comes across as likably sweet. And I love that her afterschool job is applying makeup to the recently departed at the local morgue -- again, dark humor. Denise Richards plays up the bad girl who'll do anything to win. i.e., kissing up to last yrs. winner by giving her a box of chocolate. p.s. - she's anorexic. Ellen Barkin is hysterical as Amber's trashy, but supportive mother. And funnier yet is her tacky, hard drinkin' side-kick, Loretta (Allison Janney). The movie comes to life whenever she shows up.
The other misfits - I mean, contestants - are played well by a host of unheralded actresses. Amy Adams plays the friendly, but dim-witted cheerleader. One contestant's talent is dancing while sign languaging to Through the Eyes of Love. Another contestant's talent is barking like different breeds of dogs. Another sings New York, New York with hope that she one day joins her gay brother on Broadway. Even the locals who judge the competition (who are paid under the table to rig the results) bear mentioning; one includes a pervy store clerk who stalks the girls while rehearsing -- again, dark humor. Now, portions of 'DGG' are flat/dry, & I didn't love the last 20 minutes or so. But overall, this is a risky, but wonderful satire/lampoon on the beauty pageant culture. God knows they're ripe for the picking.
Sponsored by Sarah Rose Cosmetics, Miss Mt. Rose will go on to compete in the statewide pageant with hopes of competing nationally. For each teen contestant, a win would mean getting out of their small town, and make a name for themselves. 9 girls are competing, but there are 2 clear frontrunners. The first is Becky Leeman (Denise Richards), member of the town's richest family, & daughter of former Miss Mt. Rose, Gladys Leeman (Kirstie Alley). Becky is a poised beauty, for sure, but she's also spoiled, bitchy, and as ruthless as her conniving mother. They aim to win at ALL costs. The 2nd frontrunner is Amber Atkins (Kirsten Dunst), a traditional blonde beauty who lives in a trailer park & has dreams of being a news anchor like her idol, Diane Sawyer. By winning, Amber would also make her loving, but perpetually drunk mother (Ellen Barkin) proud. But can she wade through the many dangers that this pageant presents? These dangers include exploding tractors, falling stage lights, trailer fires, & stolen pageant dresses. If Amber makes it through the end of this pageant unscathed, it'll be a miracle.
I wouldn't say 'DDG' is laugh out loud funny; it's a more of an "acknowledgment-of-deadpan/witty-humor" ... funny. And even though most of the humor is based upon laughing at someone's expense, the humor is both clever & quirky enough that you don't feel so bad. 'DDG' is littered with wicked lines of dialogue, and they are delivered knowingly by a fine ensemble cast. Kirsten Dunst, who I normally dislike, gives a tongue-in-cheek, aw-shucks performance that comes across as likably sweet. And I love that her afterschool job is applying makeup to the recently departed at the local morgue -- again, dark humor. Denise Richards plays up the bad girl who'll do anything to win. i.e., kissing up to last yrs. winner by giving her a box of chocolate. p.s. - she's anorexic. Ellen Barkin is hysterical as Amber's trashy, but supportive mother. And funnier yet is her tacky, hard drinkin' side-kick, Loretta (Allison Janney). The movie comes to life whenever she shows up.
The other misfits - I mean, contestants - are played well by a host of unheralded actresses. Amy Adams plays the friendly, but dim-witted cheerleader. One contestant's talent is dancing while sign languaging to Through the Eyes of Love. Another contestant's talent is barking like different breeds of dogs. Another sings New York, New York with hope that she one day joins her gay brother on Broadway. Even the locals who judge the competition (who are paid under the table to rig the results) bear mentioning; one includes a pervy store clerk who stalks the girls while rehearsing -- again, dark humor. Now, portions of 'DGG' are flat/dry, & I didn't love the last 20 minutes or so. But overall, this is a risky, but wonderful satire/lampoon on the beauty pageant culture. God knows they're ripe for the picking.