Smile has an odd legacy under its belt. From what you will here in the grapevine, you'll probably here high praises. In summary, it will probably be described as a tight and funny satire of the small town mentality and the banality of beauty pageant world. An underseen classic!
I would admit do see why those praises were made. The film does have some great commentary and it does have great moments of comedy. BUT I just cannot truly see the greatness in this film.
Firstly, being from a Beauty Pageants obsessed country, I founds its commentary lacking of clear knowledge of the world it tries to mock. I do sense that maybe the passage of time has changed separated my truth with theirs, but I do think that the film gives a lack of credit with the beauty pageant world. Beauty vs Brains has always been one of the central criticism of pageantry ( pitting of women against each other not withstanding). But I do feel that people conveniently forgets that just like any presentation based competition (like Body building) will and always be plagued with questions on standard. Because aesthetic appeal is a personal thing. It is bound to be different from one person to another. And while there are signifiers of aesthetics (primarily repetition, order and symmetry), it is subject to how we like to see things. I just felt that better beauty pageant films (Drop Dead Gorgeous and Miss Congeniality) handled the weirdness of beauty pageants better and knowledgably satirize questionable aspects of the pageantry (i.e. Weird etiquettes and rules, the questionable governing body and odd but noble sisterhood that truly lies within those institution)
Lastly, The film's biggest problem is that it does not create a lingering image. It too sublime for its own good. I get why it got forgotten. Its not run-of-the-mill but also not out of the box. Its smart in parts but not compelling in any. Its has good parts but not great.
Overall, I would say that the film is tolerable. It is not the great piece of Americana or Beauty Pageant that people hype it to be but it does have great moments.
PS: This film gives off a weird racist vibe and has copious amounts of uncomfortable "male gaze" for a film about female Beauty Pageant.
I would admit do see why those praises were made. The film does have some great commentary and it does have great moments of comedy. BUT I just cannot truly see the greatness in this film.
Firstly, being from a Beauty Pageants obsessed country, I founds its commentary lacking of clear knowledge of the world it tries to mock. I do sense that maybe the passage of time has changed separated my truth with theirs, but I do think that the film gives a lack of credit with the beauty pageant world. Beauty vs Brains has always been one of the central criticism of pageantry ( pitting of women against each other not withstanding). But I do feel that people conveniently forgets that just like any presentation based competition (like Body building) will and always be plagued with questions on standard. Because aesthetic appeal is a personal thing. It is bound to be different from one person to another. And while there are signifiers of aesthetics (primarily repetition, order and symmetry), it is subject to how we like to see things. I just felt that better beauty pageant films (Drop Dead Gorgeous and Miss Congeniality) handled the weirdness of beauty pageants better and knowledgably satirize questionable aspects of the pageantry (i.e. Weird etiquettes and rules, the questionable governing body and odd but noble sisterhood that truly lies within those institution)
Lastly, The film's biggest problem is that it does not create a lingering image. It too sublime for its own good. I get why it got forgotten. Its not run-of-the-mill but also not out of the box. Its smart in parts but not compelling in any. Its has good parts but not great.
Overall, I would say that the film is tolerable. It is not the great piece of Americana or Beauty Pageant that people hype it to be but it does have great moments.
PS: This film gives off a weird racist vibe and has copious amounts of uncomfortable "male gaze" for a film about female Beauty Pageant.