The Girl Most Likely to...

And that's because "The Girl Most Likely To..." takes the familiar and universal theme of the misfit, geeky underdog character who gets ridiculed, put upon and ignored and gives it a grown-up, black humor twist. We've all been there emotionally, one way or another. Just think back to high school - especially if you weren't one of the 'cool kids'. The only difference is the theme takes place on a university campus with adults who are supposed to know better. No matter. Arguments aside about right and wrong, most of us get a guilty pleasure watching Miriam Knight go about methodically knocking off her former tormentors. Who hasn't dreamed of doing such a thing? It's also a delight to see familiar character actors, and then unknown faces - some of whom would go on to bigger and better things. Ed Asner - of Mary Tylor Moore fame - would go on to "Lou Grant", Larry Wilcox went on to CHIP's, Ruth McDevitt would go on to "The Night Stalker", and Fred Grandy to "Love Boat". And the star, Channing, well...any actress would kill for her credits!

It's easy to forget that the writer for this delicious tale was none other than Joan Rivers. It's her best effort during her pre-stand-up days. She wrote the story for another movie that didn't too well, although it's a cult favorite of sorts. Some of you might remember 'The Rabbit Test', where Billy Crystal plays the first man in history to get pregnant and the socio-political reaction that quickly ensues! It's played for laughs, of course, but even critics didn't find it too entertaining.

I remember seeing this when I was in high school back in 1973. What a great introductory role for Stockard Channing - it really played to her strengths. Miriam (Stockard Channing) is a homely girl, about age 21, who has been changing colleges every semester because of how she is ignored at best, tormented at worst, at every turn. She's very smart and very talented, but every time she tries to turn over a new leaf it's the same old story. At her new school she's the butt of a joke in which the school jock takes her on a fake date just to humiliate her, and then she gets the leading role in a play stepping ahead of her cheerleader dorm roommate. She is humiliated there too because the roommate takes revenge by making sure the bouquet she gets as part of the play are roses - Miriam is allergic to them. Miriam goes into a sneezing fit, cannot say her lines because of it, and runs off the stage crying with the whole audience laughing at her performance. Driving away and in tears she has a disfiguring automobile accident. Laying there in the hospital she receives the final insult - her long-time reluctant pseudo-boyfriend Herman tells her he is marrying someone else.

However, this is where Miriam's luck changes. Plastic surgery completely changes her appearance and makes her beautiful. Now that she is beautiful, unrecognizable, and still smart and talented she goes on a homicidal tirade of revenge against all who wronged her - at least the ones we know about from the film, that is. Ironically, she doesn't actually lay a finger on any of them. Furthermore she uses her tormentors' own vanities to send them to their deaths. Technically, though, it is murder, so Edward Asner, as a homicide detective, tries to fit the pieces together and pretty soon he finds he's falling in love with the murderess' mind - he has no idea what she looks like.

Joan Rivers wrote this little gem, and if you know anything about her style of comedy and the burgeoning women's lib movement in the early 70's, this film seems to not so much come out of nowhere. Whenever I think of this film today, I always think about the fact that America's most popular TV show "American Idol" does exactly what drove Miriam over the edge - put less than attractive people center stage so people can feel better about themselves by laughing at them.

This is one of my favorite dark comedy films--light-hearted, beautifully wicked and sometimes poignant. The plot is somewhat thin, but Stockard Channing is perfect in the lead and she makes it believable. Her transformation from Ugly Duckling to evil Swan is wonderful and sexy as is her wicked delight in bringing justice to those who caused her pain as her former self. The film is subtly satiric and delivers a climax with a twist. Lots of supporting cast members that are future "B" stars in their own right.

This was the first movie that introduced me to Stockard Channing and I too, loved the movie and Stockard Channing's portrayal of Miriam Knight. It's not everyday you find a TV movie that's both funny and entertaining without being silly, inane, and for the under 21 age group. The script was well written and it has a certain level of realism, that addresses the need that some of us may have to get even with those who torment us for being different. If TV movies such as "Fatal Vision" and "Chiefs" can make it to VHS, certainly "The Girl Most Likely To" should join that marketing strategy as well. Besides, making movies is about making money, for the writers, for the actors, the director, and especially for the producers, so let the capitalistic urge overtake you and allow the public to enjoy this movie again and again.

As others have remarked, I find it disappointing that this film has not been released on video. I recall seeing it in 1973, as a senior in college, on my portable black-and-white TV set in my dorm room. I was studying and sort of halfway missed the first half-hour, but eventually I was so intrigued that I set aside the books and watched the rest.

The transformation of the Stockard Channing character in the course of her accident and plastic surgery is so striking that I truly did not know that she played both the "before" and "after" versions until reading the IMDB credits and user comments today.

I can only echo the requests of others to please re-issue this film on DVD.