Director Michael Ritchie's absurdist dark-comedy "Smile", written by comedy veteran Jerry Belson, was bound to become a cult favorite: it's funny and mean-spirited in equal measure. High school girls from California cities, of varying degrees of talent and inner beauty, gather in Santa Rosa for the Miss Young American pageant. Ritchie and Belson surprisingly don't take aim at beauty contests so much as they skewer small town American pseudo-values, with a collection of contestants prodded into the spirit of winning by their enthusiastic handlers. Several very funny vignettes--particularly when involving the winking, clueless musical director--though the backstage comedic-drama lacks spark. Both Bruce Dern's car-dealer judge and pageant coordinator Barbara Feldon's faltering marriage are liked speedbumps. Some of the humor is sharp, yet director Michael Ritchie tends to cool out Belson's cynicism and edge by darting around and picking up small bits of fluff on the fly. It's a satire American idealism, but not really a satisfying one. Several of the girls are very good, particularly Joan Prather and Annette O'Toole in the largest roles. **1/2 from ****
Review of Smile
