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Not
since John Waters' Hairspray, has the inner workings
of the lower classes been so gosh darn funny. Writer Lona
Williams' characters are so life-like I think she may
have title to a doublewide she ain't 'fessin' up to.
Drop Dead Gorgeous brings us to rural USA; Mount
Rose, Minnesota. It's a small hick town with the usual
social politics afoot. Trash vs. snobs. Good vs. Evil.
Blonde vs. Brunette. Slim Jims vs. Beef Jerky.
The Leemans are thee big muck-mucks of the area.
They own most of the place. They are also the sponsors
of the local teenage beauty pageant. Oh, and their daughter
happens to be a teenager in the sure-to-be-unbiased fore
mentioned pageant. Becky (Denise "weasel browed"
Richards) is the young Leeman and would be crowned beauty.
Becky is, well, for lack of a better word--a bitch. Okay,
a bitch squared, if truth be told. Sure she's gorgeous
but, not as gorgeous as Amber Atkins (Kirsten Dunst).
Amber is the quintessential trashe-de-blanc poster child,
with a network smile. Her mom, Annette (Ellen "woof
woof" Barkin) is the local hairdresser with an affection
for chain smoking and drinking up a mighty storm. Amber
and Annette believe this pageant is the ticket outta poolokaville
and into yuppieville. Especially for the bubbly Amber.
Um, cause she'll be discovered or something? Yeah, cause
that's what pageants do for girls. Tah!
Anyhoodlum, The contestants start to die left and right.
Who could be the culprit? Hmmm. Becky Leeman?
Or perhaps her mom Gladys (Kirstie "boom-boom"
Alley). Gladys won her pageant in this very town seventeen
years ago.
Then again it could be the pedophile John Dough, or 'tard
boy, Hank Vilmes. Well, you'll see who dunnit, because you'll
see this movie - that's an order.
Ellen Barkin is out of her usual suave character, and a
real treat. Her close friend in the flick, Loretta, played
by under rated Allison Janny, is a scene stealer! The lines
are so funny you may have to see this twice just to catch
them all. One of the many great points of this movie is
a lot of not-in-your-face humor. Subtle things, easy to
miss if you're not watching.
Notable mention is Sam McMurray, perfect as the obnoxious
Mr. Lester Leeman, business man, all around dick. Well,
nuff said. Buy this/rent this somehow see this and prepare
to laugh out loud, a whole heap load!
Snack recommendation: Lil Smokies and Old
Milwaukee in a can.
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