A great film for those who have ever been, or have though of being involved with a pageant. The up's and down's of the pageant take center stage as this comedy deals with the roles that everyone has. The judges, contestants, family members, local residents, and even the horny teenagers in the area are all represented. Bruce Dern stars as the main judge of the pageant. Although it mostly his story the movie tells, his friends and the girls he judges have stories that are told. The very young and very beautiful Melanie Griffith co-stars as the eye candy of the pageant. She is the 'poster' of the film if not the main attraction. Having a small role, she ends up playing a bigger role than her characters allows her to have. Overall, the movie becomes a black comedy as the pageant progresses. In the end, some learn a valuable lesson while others just try to look pretty.