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BEAUTIFUL

"It’s What’s On the Inside that Counts"

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What You Need To Know:

Minnie Driver stars as Mona in BEAUTIFUL, a woman whose lifelong dream of being a beauty queen encounters many trials. In this story, however, a situation arises that could cost Mona her career, an out-of-wedlock pregnancy, but it is kept well-hidden. The truth eventually comes out, however, but turns out to be an example of love rather than a roadblock, revealing that inner beauty is what prevails in the end.

Although BEAUTIFUL is a balanced mixture of comedy and drama, there are some questionable elements that mar its story. The main character, Mona, gets pregnant out of wedlock and then lies about it in order to compete in beauty pageants. She also uses foul language, including some in front of a child, which is later reflected when the child “fills in” a word for her. Mona gives her a somewhat sarcastic rebuke, which ends with another sample of foul language. Besides the language, there is one brief scene of partial nudity in a dressing room, although it is not depicted in a sexual context. However, due to this content and other questionable elements, BEAUTIFUL may be unsuitable for children

Content:

(Pa, B, C, LL, V, S, N, A, D, MM) Mild pagan worldview with morally redemptive elements; 8 obscenities, 2 profanities, with foul language used once by & in front of child; boys tease girl, boys briefly wrestle with each other, implied death by drug overdose, girl struggles with flaming baton stuck on her hand with later depiction of scarred palm, child watches as mother taken to jail, & some scenes of intense, emotional family situations; implied situation of man trying to touch young girl but girl blows whistle which startles him, some sexual references, kissing, & child born out of wedlock; cleavage, dressing room scene of girls in underwear & girl covers breasts with her hands; alcohol use; smoking & woman in nursing home abuses pills; and, revenge, deceit, lying, & blackmail, all rebuked.

More Detail:

Minnie Driver of RETURN TO ME stars in BEAUTIFUL, which depicts one woman’s childhood dream of being a beauty queen. Her concentration on this goal is later met with the realization that she has made sacrifices in the wrong areas of her life.

Viewers first see Mona Hibbard as a young girl, paying for her own braces. She lives with her mother, who is constantly complaining that Mona gives her a headache, and her mother’s boyfriend, who sometimes tries to sneak into Mona’s bedroom at night, only to be stopped with her whistle-blowing (literally) defense tactics. Mona, despite her living conditions, is a strong-willed girl stubbornly set in her goal to be a beauty queen. Her room, decorated with magazine photos and self-encouragement cards (“you can do it,” “don’t ever give up!”), are testimony to her pursuit of her dream.

Mona earns money delivering groceries to pay for her pageants. When faced with the problem of not being able to purchase costumes for the events, she sees a small, quiet girl in her home economics class that can sew amazingly well. Mona sticks up for the girl during lunch one day and finds out the girl’s name is Ruby. The pair strike up a friendship and help each other out whenever they can.

Years later, a grown up Mona (Driver) still watches and enters the beauty pageants with just as much, if not more, fervor. Ruby (Joey Lauren Adams of BIG DADDY), a nurse at a convalescent home, is as supportive as ever, especially when Mona seeks revenge on her fellow pageant contestants. Ruby constantly consoles Mona and pushes her when Mona seems ready to give up her dream. Her friendship is especially vital when Mona informs Ruby that she is pregnant, a disqualification for anyone competing in the “Miss” pageants.

More time passes, and Mona wins the state pageant. Ruby is now mother to Vanessa (Hallie Kate Eisenberg of PEPSI commercial fame), a young girl who looks suspiciously like Mona. Vanessa loves playing soccer and is more annoyed with Mona than anything. In fact, she has grown to see Mona as a selfish person who always forgets to take her to her soccer games. For Mona, the feeling is likewise, but when Ruby is incarcerated for something she didn’t do, Mona must compete for the national title without her support, not to mention keeping an eye on Vanessa. Forced to be together, Mona and Vanessa learn not only the necessity to help each other, but that they need each other.

Although BEAUTIFUL is a balanced mixture of comedy and drama, there are some questionable elements that mar its story. The main character, Mona, gets pregnant out of wedlock and then lies about it in order to compete in beauty pageants. She also uses foul language in front of a child, which is reflected when the child “fills in” a word for her. Mona gives her a somewhat sarcastic rebuke, saying, “I am the only one that can say that s**t.” Therefore, due to this content and other questionable elements, BEAUTIFUL may be unsuitable for children.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.