Drop Dead Gorgeous

Unflinching Silliness

Let this be said for director Michael Patrick Jann and writer Lona Williams: they don't shy away from anything! They proudly charge after jokes that others would think too edgy. I guess shows like "The State" (Jann) and "The Drew Carey Show" (Williams) don't encourage playing it safe. Good thing, too, because there are some real doozies in Drop Dead Gorgeous, a "mockumentary" in the tradition of Waiting for Guffman and the granddaddy of them all, This Is Spinal Tap. Look at William Sasso's character. Look at Becky's talent performance. Look at the horrible twist in the state competition. Look at every second Alexandra Holden is on screen. These are hardly timid jokes, and some of them are borderline nauseating, but they work! Forget the lovable charm of Fargo's Minnesota, Drop Dead Gorgeous goes for the jugular. An item for the trivia file: the lady in the Pork Products commercial is played by Kristin Rudrüd, the kidnapped wife in Fargo. As an added bonus, the movie has three, count 'em, three explosions. Big ones, you betcha!

Princesses

Kirsten Dunst carries the movie. It only takes one watching of Dick to be confident of her ability to lead. Brittany Murphy turns in another over-the-top performance, which must be easy after her part in Freeway. She's also the voice of Luanne on "King of the Hill". Most of the other competitors make their feature debut here. I particularly enjoyed Shannon Nelson, Sarah Steward. Denise Richards is an odd low point in the cast. Maybe there's a little too much insincerity leaking out of her.