As much as I love Smile--and I DO love it--there's a faint odor of misogyny in its neighbourhood. Things I overlooked when I last saw the film over a decade ago now seem blatantly exploitative and, well, a little off putting. From the upskirt shot of Melanie Griffith in the early going to the ogling teenage boy who snaps Polaroids of naked lasses in their changing room to the final freeze frame shot of a topless woman's photo, one gets the distinct impression that director Ritchie is not that far from being an upscale Russ Meyers or David Friedman. And whilst there's nothing wrong with that in general, Smile's message--that the superficial world of beauty contests masks a seamier underbelly--is seriously undercut. Having said that, the film is still most enjoyable and filled with wonderful performances (especially those of Bruce Dern and Annette O'Toole), sharp writing (the sanitary napkin speech is hilarious), and the heartbreaking tones of Nat 'King' Cole over the opening credits.
