Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)

Oh dang, I love this movie, and a few weeks ago it dawned on me that one of my main movie-watching friends would love it. It's the last film I watched in NJ before going to Germany. Styled as a fake documentary, Drop Dead Gorgeous follows the ups and downs of a high school beauty pageant in the small town of Mount Rose, Minnesota. The filmmakers interview the nine participants, including the giggly Lisa (Brittany Murphy), cheerleading Leslie (Amy Adams, in her first film role), vice president of the Mount Rose Lutheran Sisters Gun Club and projected winner Becky (Denise Richards), and the upbeat Amber (Kirsten Dunst), intent on winning the pageant so she can get out of the town and become a news anchor, just like Diane Sawyer. In charge of the whole shindig is Gladys Leeman (Kirstie Alley), a former pageant winner and Becky's mother.

The process of getting supplies for the event, rehearsing the dance numbers, and having a talent is documented faithfully, as well as the multiple fatalities and near-death experiences suffered by many of the film's subjects. One particularly competitive contestant's tractor explodes, a boy who asks Amber on a date accidentally shoots himself while hunting, and a loose stage light hospitalizes another contestant. Gladys and Becky write them off as accidents, but Amber is ready to question the situation. The story continues from the regional event to state to national, with a steadily increasing death toll and of course, lots of laughter and Fargo-esque accents.

This movie is just gosh darn awesome in every way. I love the almost completely female cast (rare for comedies), with fabulous turns in even the smaller parts like Allison Janney as Annette's best friend and Mindy Sterling as Gladys' second-in-command. Ellen Barkin is stellar, of course, and Amy Adams is adorable. Denise Richards utilizes her big smile and Kirsten Dunst works that hardcore Minnesota accent. But I think it's really Kirstie Alley who stands out here. She puts so much of herself into the role that every piece of silly and slightly ludicrous dialogue she is given sounds almost realistic, making it even funnier. This brings me to the dialogue, and how good it is: you guys, the dialogue is so funny. I spent a good chunk of junior year of high school (or maybe sophomore?) having conversations that were just quotes from this movie. It's just that good.

This is a film that doesn't get old, really, which is another reason it's one of my favourite comedies. I wouldn't watch it every day, but the jokes are consistently funny and some of the sight gags are just classic. Watch out for Jenelle Betz, the reigning champion from the previous year, because every scene she is in is this crazy blend of horrific and hilarious. My main issue with Drop Dead Gorgeous is that its collaborators have never done another movie! The screenwriter, Lona Williams (who also cameos as the Judge #3), has produced a couple of things but has never written any other film. Michael Patrick Jann, the director and State alum, turned to television directing for the likes of Reno 911 and Little Britain USA. That's cool and everything but come on... movies. Seeing as how that isn't an issue with the actual film, I'll conclude by saying this is just an excellent, well-written, well-acted comedy, straight up. We need more mockumentaries. And more ladies in comedy.

5/5