Drop Dead Gorgeous
New Line Home Entertainment
Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Kirstie Alley, Denise Richards, Ellen Barkin
Extras: Theatrical Trailers, Talent Files
Rating:
As the world becomes smaller thanks to the availability of information from sources such as the Internet, I’ve noticed that movies critics have become much more snotty and seem to only want to recognize “important” films. A case in point is “Drop Dead Gorgeous.” This film was savaged by critics. Is it art? Did it change my life? No. Did I laugh? You’d better believe it!
“Drop Dead Gorgeous” is one of the funniest comedies that I’ve seen in a long time and only the (very) weak ending keeps it from being a classic. This spoof of beauty pageants starring Denise Richards and Kirsten Dunst is filled with zany physical comedy and some very subtle one-liners. The mock documentary style in which “Drop Dead Gorgeous” is filmed offers a unique perspective on the film’s content. Ellen Barkin fans be warned: her role is little more than a cameo.
The New Line Home Video DVD of “Drop Dead Gorgeous” is surprisingly sparse for a New Line release. The film is presented in an anamorphic widescreen format and is letterboxed at 1.85:1. The picture is very clear, and as the pageant sequences feature many lavish colors, the DVD does an excellent job of presenting these hues with little distortion. Blacks on this disc are solid and deep, and fleshtones are very naturally rendered throughout.
The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio mix is active through the entire film, and the movie features an excellent music soundtrack as well. The only extras on the DVD are the “Drop Dead Gorgeous” theatrical trailer, and talent files. Throughout the talent files, you can find trailers for other New Line films. To quote Bob and Doug McKenzie, “Beauty!”
