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No matter how diverse our lifestyles, our backgrounds, and our stories may be, there are so many experiences and emotions that can connect people together. And in Miss Arizona, a pampered LA housewife finds that she has a lot in common with a group of unlikely new friends.
Miss Arizona stars Johanna Braddy as Rose Raynes, a former beauty queen who’s bored and lonely in her posh but carefully controlled life in LA. When her talent agent husband (Kyle Howard) jets off to Tonys weekend in New York and her 10-year-old son leaves for a sleepover, Rose agrees to don her gown and sash to teach a life skills class at a women’s shelter. But after the shelter’s location is compromised and the women are put in danger, she ends up on a wild quest to keep these women—and their children—safe.
Admittedly, there aren’t a whole lot of surprises here as this clueless rich girl attempts to talk to four troubled women about using their gifts to help the world. They need jobs and homes and protection from abusive partners—not pep talks from a woman who spends her days getting her hair done and reading magazines by the pool. But, of course, as they open up about their lives and their experiences, these five women eventually find a bond.
The characters here aren’t especially well-developed, but their different styles and personalities make the film entertaining. From bold and outspoken Jasmine (Shoniqua Shandai) to abused wife Leslie (Robyn Lively), who will do anything to get her children away from her husband, they give the film both humor and heart. And as the women set off on their all-night adventure, the characters will hold viewers’ attention.
Still, despite the film’s outrageous adventures—its back alley deals and drag shows (featuring Steve Guttenberg as the world’s worst drag queen)—writer/director Autumn McAlpin seems unsure of the tone that she wants to give the film. The story struggles to find its balance—and instead of a fun-filled comedy with a heartwarming message, it seems to jump back and forth from wild and wacky humor to heavy drama. In fact, the beginning of the film isn’t really funny at all—so when Rose meets the other women and they end up racing through the streets, it feels like a major shift. From there, it’s sometimes silly, sometimes ridiculous, and sometimes way too preachy. The characters make it charming—and sometimes funny, too—but it simply doesn’t know what it wants to be.
Miss Arizona isn’t an especially unexpected story. You’ve most likely seen characters and adventures like these before. But it’s still a sweet and funny story about love and support between some unlikely friends.
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