The movie critique portion of this review was written by my colleague Jessica Gonzales.
Is Drop Dead Gorgeous a comedy that’s as dark as they come? Yah, you betcha, but don’t let that dissuade you. It has an all-star cast with some of the best performances you’ll see this side of middle America—in particular, Kirsten Dunst, and it has a quotability score that is off the charts. Shot in mockumentary style, it emulates Christopher Guest’s greatest work. Even with the few things that haven’t aged as well, they could be worse, and it’s still a solid film; it’s understandable why it has earned the title of a cult classic over the years.
It’s 1995 and time for the annual Mount Rose American Teen Princess Pageant in the small town of Mount Rose, Minnesota. The documentarians immediately begin following all of the contestants. Amber Atkins (Kirsten Dunst) quickly looks to be a favorite to win as she is endearing, smart, and talented, but unfortunately, the most powerful and richest family in town also has a daughter in the pageant, Becky Ann Leeman (Denise Richards). Becky’s mom, Gladys Leeman (Kirstie Alley), is a former winner of the pageant and also just so happens to be head of the organizing committee for it. Things begin to go awry when different girls suspiciously begin to get hurt or even killed.
Amber is trying her best to stay positive for her mother, Annette Atkins (Ellen Barkin), and her mother’s best friend, Loretta (Allison Janney), but she begins to waver on whether being in the pageant at all is the best idea since it might just get her killed. She knows her ways out of Mount Rose are limited, unlike the boys who, “get out all the time because of hockey scholarships…or prison,” and she dreams of being a reporter like her hero Diane Sawyer. Meanwhile, Becky Ann Leeman seems unfazed by all of the strange happenings and mostly concerns herself with being the best since it always seems to come naturally to her. The whole town is gearing up for the big night of the pageant, and hardly anyone seems concerned about the girls’ safety, not even local law enforcement, but who will win?
This dark, satirical look at small town life in America is wickedly funny. There are small and clever bits like dialogue, background characters, and sound design that could be missed in a blink which only add to this movie’s rewatchability. Dark comedies like these are seldom made now, so cherish this Blu-Ray release! Get lost in its absurd and acidic humor and pick up some useful tips for Vaseline along the way.
Video Quality
Drop Dead Gorgeous gets a stellar upgrade on Blu-Ray courtesy of Warner Archive with a new 2020 1080p master. The transfer provides natural film grain absent of any compression artifacts or other such digital anomalies. This disc also wonderfully represents the various settings from the trailer park where our hero lives to the opulent mansion that the Leeman family inhabits. There are elements in the production design that are easily visible for the first time ever on home entertainment, especially in the crowded dressing room. There are some nice, vibrant colors that make the film pop visually in an exciting way, especially in various colorful outfits. Skin tones look natural, and the presentation offers up deep black levels. The mockumentary aspect of the film means that the picture sometimes transitions to handheld camera moments which maintain a nice stability. Warner Archive has provided a fantastic transfer for a film that has long gone unappreciated since its initial release.
Audio Quality
Warner Archive brings this new Blu-Ray to consumers with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix that is just as worthy of praise as the video presentation. The dialogue primarily stays within the center channel, but makes its way to the surround speakers when necessary, such as in the hustle and bustle of the backstage area where girls are calling across the room to one another. There are some notable environmental effects that give the track a bit of a kick, such as more than one explosion. One key part of the movie is the music within, as everything from Woody Guthrie to David Bowie comes through with a dynamic intensity. There are no defects to the track such as hissing or audio dropouts. This is a well-balanced track that gets the job done in a most admirable manner. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided on this disc.
Special Features
- Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here which does a really nice job of showing the black humor of the film.
Final Thoughts
Drop Dead Gorgeous is one of the great underappreciated gems of the late 90s. It is incredible to look back at this cast and see what a murderer’s row of talent is on display. This is the perfect film that you can watch and quote endlessly with anyone else who has had the pleasure of doing the same. Warner Archive has given this film a 5-star Blu-Ray upgrade with a practically flawless A/V presentation. If you love dark comedies and have not seen this one yet, you owe it to yourself to make viewing this a priority. Highly Recommended
Drop Dead Gorgeous can be purchased directly through the Warner Archive Amazon Store or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.