FFWD Weekly
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Film by Richard Zywotkiewicz Drop Dead Gorgeous directed by Michael Patrick Jann starring Denise Richards, Kirstie Alley and Ellen Barkin Opens Friday, July 23 There are countless things that one can humorously dissect in American culture, from Jerry Springer to pay-before-you-pump gas stations. Drop Dead Gorgeous explores one of the obvious ones: beauty contests. The result is considerably funny, while bordering on redundant. In the heart of a small Minnesota town, Mount Rose, amidst the cow fields, pork sausage factories and Lutheran churches, trying to win the beauty crown means murdering other contestants as well as other unladylike activities. Out in front is Becky Leeman (Denise Richards), spoiled little rich girl, daughter of former winner Gladys Leeman (Kirstie Alley), and cool-handed President of the Lutheran Sisterhood Gun Club. Becky's main talent is to be as sanctimonious as possible while dancing with a life-size crucifix and singing a song about the man she loves during the talent contest. Close behind Becky is television anchorwoman-in-waiting Amber Catkins (Kirsten Duns), the smart trailer-park beauty who was raised on second-hand smoke and dreams of getting out of Mount Rose and away from her squalid life with loving mother Annette (Ellen Barkin). Becky’s talents include tap-dancing and beautifying stiffs at the local funeral parlour. Joining Becky and Amber is an equally ambitious cadre of girls doing animal calls, lip-synching and interpretative sign language dances in sequins and spandex. Drop Dead Gorgeous is the directorial debut of Michael Patrick Jann and is written and executive produced by former Minnesota beauty pageant contestant Lona Williams, who swears almost everything that happens in the film has happened in some pageant somewhere. With Drop Dead Gorgeous, the signs are that mockumentary features are here to stay. This is certainly a better film than Waiting For Guffman, but in no way matches the persistent wit of the classic This Is Spinal Tap. Both Alley and Barkin have a field day with their roles, and with so much to make fun of, director Jann takes advantage of every opportunity. I’m sure we are going to see something about professional wrestling soon, but then again, like Penelope Spheeris’s engaging The Decline of Western Civilization, Part II: The Metal Years, the real thing is probably more hilarious.

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