Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)

Drop Dead Gorgeous is filmed in a documentary style (no, thankfully not like the Blair Witch Project, or any of its many imitators) and charts a beauty pageant in small town America.If you're expecting just some simply bitchiness between catty teenage queens, you're probably thinking too low. Kirsty Alley plays the mother of one of the contestants who's determined to do whatever it takes for her daughter (Denise Richards) to win. This, of course, means murdering anyone who she sees as competition.Drop Dead Gorgeous is the epitome of black comedy. There are no jokes - as such - in this film. All the laughter comes from subtle situations and performances which leaves you cringing into your cushion. Also, all the characters are perfect. It's like an ensemble cast of actors and actresses that you probably don't know that well, who all just so happen to play their respected parts perfectly. Special credit must go to Denise Richards who is truly brilliant when she comes to visit the former beauty queen winner in hospital (I'll say no more about that - just classic).Perhaps Drop Dead Gorgeous didn't set the box office alight at its time of release because of its dark subject matter. It does poke fun of America's obsession with parades, self image and all things beautiful. It may even have been a little ahead of its time. Back in 1999 at the film's release, documentary (or should I say 'mockumentary' films?) were not as common as they are today.If you like your films deeply dark, with plenty of subtle humour and great performances then this is the one for you. However, if you're looking for comedy that's a little more 'in your face' (ala American Pie) then Drop Dead Gorgeous is a very different beast indeed).

A small town beauty pageant turns deadly as it becomes clear that someone will go to any lengths to win. A strong cast pulls the most out of mediocre material. From an artistic standpoint, there were some plot elements and character developments I didn't think were totally needed. They do however drive the story, which seemed to be their purpose, so I can accept them. The kind of film that successfully proves that a small story can be much more meaningful than a larger one. If you can find it on DVD or Bluray for under $10, buy it, but it won't be worth much more than that to you because it's a bit outdated according to my personal tastes.

I just watched this again for the first time in a few years. And it is even more hilarious than I remembered. The script is wicked, creating satire that assaults the senses like a baseball bat to the gut. The cast is perfect. Just about everyone delivers an inspired performance, and there are too many to talk about all of them. But the least likely is worth mentioning. Denise Richards is brilliant as a born-to-be beauty queen, the daughter of the local pageant manager, played by Kirstie Alley. Her "talent" performance is the dark highlight of the movie, so ridiculously over-the-top that that you may feel the need to wince. Try not to. If you close your eyes for even a moment, you'll miss something.Brittany Murphy also deserves a special mention. She plays a goofy, good-natured contestant in what would be a throw-away role for many actors. But Murphy brings a charm and commitment that makes it work. And she is rewarded with what I think is the best line in the movie.

I am flabbergasted too this is no way my thing a teen pageant comedy is not my thing but when it melds together with this I like it. It really boggles my mind how the hell Kirsten Dunst ever became in a Crow movie it's not that she's not a good actress she is a talented actress.SPOILERS IN PLOT the basic plot is that someone running a teen pageant who her daughter is in so she rigs it and not in a legal way she starts killing the competition and Amber Atkins (Dunst) is next but in all of her attempts it doesn't work. so what do we have in the talent show that the runner kills all the competition. the daughter sings "your just to good to be true" a horrible song and sings it badly I might add and dancing with Jesus on the cross. do you believe that the mother actually left some people over? I think your answer is "yes" but eventually Kirsten performs after a costume fiasco and she still gave the winner out to the daughter but Atkins' thing that she was better than her performance but the thing is that she blew up her daughter on a swan in a parade to make Dunst the winner.You may think it's not my thing but I laughed.