Before Miss Congeniality and Little Miss Sunshine, the stars-and-stripes phenomenon of beauty pageantry was caricatured in this wickedly acerbic mockumentary set in middle America. Twinkling with comic talent, Kirsten Dunst channels Lisa Simpson-ish spirit as Amber, a girl who won’t stand for corruption. Her formidable adversaries are the privileged Becky (Denise Richards) and her pageant overlord mother (a never-better Kirstie Alley), who together concoct pure comedy gold. *MUBI FEST comes to London November 13-15. Great cinema, exclusive talks, live music, and more.*