Drop Dead Gorgeous

REVIEW
A scintillating premise is allowed to be flushed down the drain thanks to static direction and a script which doesn't live up to its potential. Told as a faux documentary, the story sends-up beauty pageants and the mothers and daughters who live for them -- and would kill for them. That the film hits a few of its targets in parodying the contestants and their families makes it only more disappointing that the film midway begins to fizzle. Alley and Richards are in good form as the prim and haughty mother and daughter determined to win at any cost. Dunst gives a lively portrayal of a down-to-earth contestant who uncovers a murder plot during state finals, and Barkin is just right as her trailer-trash mom. Too bad the satire they've all been given to do is so obvious.