The greatest movie ever!

Just perfect...

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

There are very few mocumentaries that I have seen that I actually liked, let alone loved. This movie falls into the 'Loved' category (along with 'This is Spinal Tap'). With an incredible cast, and non-stop dark, biting humor, Drop Dead Gorgeous is one of the few comedies that I've seen that had me laughing out loud.Kirstie Allie, Allison Janney, Ellen Barken, Brittany Murphy, a young Amy Adams, Kirstin Dunst, Denise Richards...so many great actors, and all do a great job. But special kudos go to Will Sasso and Michael McShane, who make an outstanding comedic team.There are some bits that could be considered in 'bad taste' by some, so if you are overly sensitive you may not enjoy it as much. But for the other 99%, check this film out as soon as possible. It is hilarious from beginning to end!

It's 1995. The Sarah Rose Cosmetics American Teen Princess Pageant is the oldest beauty contest celebrating its 50th anniversary. In the rural town of Mount Rose, Minnesota, a documentary crew is filming the local chapter of the pageant run by Gladys Leeman (Kirstie Alley). Amber Atkins (Kirsten Dunst) is a hardworking, optimistic contestant following her cynical mother Annette Atkins (Ellen Barkin) and Diane Sawyer's footsteps. Loretta (Allison Janney) is their trailer park neighbor. Another contestant Tammy gets blown up in an unusual incident. She was the president of the gun club which rich girl Becky Leeman (Denise Richards) wanted. Amber's goofy friend Lisa Swenson (Brittany Murphy), perky cheerleader Leslie Miller (Amy Adams), and other wacky girls have also entered the pageant. There are creepy guys doing the judging. Another mysterious death occurs and Amber is suspicious.This is a faux documentary like a Christopher Guest movie except not as good. The idea is full of quirky potential. There are some chuckle moments but there isn't enough comedy. It needs those laugh out loud moments to keep going. The deadpan deliveries are expected to be funny by themselves but they're not. Dunst is great and these lovely girls do try. Overall, it just needs to be funnier.

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).

The quaint tales from Lake Wobegon have nothing on this pitch black fable from Mt Rose's, Miss Teen Princess Pageant. Captured by a supposed documentary film crew over a course of a few weeks, "Drop Dead Gorgeous's" biting satire and gallows humor hits you like a malfunctioning stage light to the head.Amber Atkins (Kirsten Dunst) is a modest teenager with the modest goal of performing her dance routine in front of her mother (Ellen Barkin) who was a former beauty queen. Amber's other idol, Dianne Sawyer was also a beauty pageant winner so it only makes sense she's in it to win it. Her chances of taking home the prize however are dimmed at every turn by town rich girl Becky Leeman (Denise Richards) and her overbearing, duplicitous mother, (Kristie Alley) who is also the pageant organizer. As "accidents" start to occur and bodies start to pile up around town it is clear something's rotten in the State of Minnesota.You might gleam that this film pokes a lot of fun at beauty pageants. Well, you'd be right but small town America gets by far the largest skewering as evidenced not only with the exaggerated Midwestern accents and trailer park foolishness but the corruption of the pageant itself. Each character, even the background ones leave an indelible mark, showcasing a parade of farcical character traits and neurosis topped only by their particular "talents". They are of course oblivious to their own faults allowing the film crew to edit their doc with levels upon levels of delicious irony.People who deride this film because it doesn't rise to the level of "Waiting for Guffman" are making a false comparison. "Guffman" uses the mockumentary style as its own genre. The humor stems not from anarchic comedy or exaggerated satire but from the human elements captured' on film. Christopher Guest's characters are more three-dimensional and as a result the satire culminates in warm lighthearted jabs. "Drop Dead Gorgeous" on the other hand is a dark comedy with the mockumentary style serving only as a gimmick. The style isn't fundamentally important to the themes like in "Guffman" yet important to amplify a few key gags.And boy are these gags effective! Nearly every joke hits it mark. Due credit should be given to scribe Lona Williams who also penned and story edited much of the Drew Carrey Show. But I reserve my largest accolades to the cast. Not only do Dunst, Barkin, and Alley deliver but so does the supporting cast which includes Allison Janney Brittany Murphy, Amy Adams, Mindy Sterling and even walk-ons by Adam West and the always funny Nora Dunn.In conclusion, for those who like their satire cold and black, and those who can appreciate a largely female cast "Drop Dead Gorgeous" maybe just the shot in the arm you need.http://theyservepopcorninhell.blogspot.com/