Drop Dead Gorgeous was one of my favorite satires in the early 2000s. Does this movie with Kirsten Dunst and Amy Adams still hold up?
In 2000, I rented (I know, right?!) a movie starring Kirsten Dunst and Kirstie Alley called Drop Dead Gorgeous. The mockumentary-style satire follows small-town beauty pageant contestants preparing for their big night. I loved this film when I first saw it back in the day; the question is, does it still hold up?
As usual, I feel strangely obligated to remind you that there could be light spoilers below. But also ask, can you have spoilers for a movie from 1999?
So, let’s get right to the point: does Drop Dead Gorgeous hold up? Well… not exactly. There are great scenes, characters, and storylines, but I was over it halfway through this time. But there are still some really great elements, starting with the cast. Kirsten Dunst is brilliant as the optimistic, happy-go-lucky main character, but it’s the supporting cast that makes the film great. From Kirstie Alley, Ellen Barkin, and Allison Janney to Amy Adams, Brittany Murphy, Denise Richards, and Mandy Sterling, the movie is packed with talent in every scene. The film hinges on the characters, not the plot, and the stellar cast will motivate you to watch until the very end.
Drop Dead Gorgeous follows former beauty queen and pageant director Gladys Leeman (Kirstie Alley) as she oversees a small-town pageant in which her daughter participates. Gladys is desperate for her daughter to win, and suddenly, other front runners are the victims of strange accidents and deaths. But make no mistake, this is not a horror movie; this is a satirical comedy taking aim at the beauty pageant industry.
I’m indifferent about Drop Dead Gorgeous, but if it piques your interest, I say: watch it! There were hilarious moments and a few first-rate characters (I’d watch Ellen Barkin or Allison Janney in almost anything). But I’d understand if you skipped over this one.
