Beautiful is a film that delivers a surprisingly healthy message but unfortunately is only likely to be fully appreciated by those people freaky enough to understand Mona's ridiculous obsession with beauty pageants. It was bad enough that she spent the greater portion of her formative years sitting in front of the TV watching these pointless contests, but later in the film it turns out that she has aggressively alienated her own daughter because she is so bent on winning one of those stupid awards.
At almost two hours, Beautiful tends to run a little long, especially for a film with such a questionable premise, but the ultimate (and, admittedly, wholely predictable) conclusion almost makes it worth while. But not quite. There's nothing spectacular here, but it does make an important comment on modern society's excessive focus on superficial beauty. However, if you want to see that particular area touched upon in a much more witty and entertaining and talented film, watch American Beauty. American Beauty is the kind of film that Beautiful tries to be, but it just doesn't come out right.
At almost two hours, Beautiful tends to run a little long, especially for a film with such a questionable premise, but the ultimate (and, admittedly, wholely predictable) conclusion almost makes it worth while. But not quite. There's nothing spectacular here, but it does make an important comment on modern society's excessive focus on superficial beauty. However, if you want to see that particular area touched upon in a much more witty and entertaining and talented film, watch American Beauty. American Beauty is the kind of film that Beautiful tries to be, but it just doesn't come out right.