User Reviews

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.

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.

Stockard Channing seemingly came out of nowhere and gave us a preview of the quirky, oblique roles that would make her famous. Over the years, there have been many movies that start out funny and turn dark. In this movie, we have a very dark beginning, where a handsome boy, as part of a sick bet, seduces a very homely girl. As she flees the humiliating scene, she is involved in a horrendous auto accident (dark enough for you yet?). Because she is so damaged in the accident, doctors take the opportunity to remake her as a beautiful woman. Inside, however, she is still devastated by her prior treatment, so she uses her new beauty to exact horrible revenge on those who had tormented her when she was ugly. Now here's the kicker: she does this in a darkly funny way. See this movie if you ever get the chance. Stockard benefited from a stellar supporting cast, but she herself was magnificent!

I saw this movie when I was in 5th grade and I've loved Stockard Channing ever since. I never met anyone who had ever heard of it, and tonight on a whim I looked it up and - voilà! there are others who remember it! I only saw it once and would love it if it came out on video. That's all I have to say, other than the fact that I can't understand why there is a minimum of ten lines required, since there really isn't that much more to say about a movie I saw 32 years ago . I wouldn't even bother at all except that I hope this helps convince someone to release the video. I guess that's all I have to say, but I'll say it again since I'm only on line 9; that's it now.

I have seen this movie exactly three times: once, when it was first shown, and twice on the late show. This is the first movie I'd seen with Stockard Channing and immediately fell in love with it. An even better effort than Joan Rivers' next film, "Rabbit Test" (feh). I'd like to add my voice to the masses and beg for a video release of this. Very funny, very dark, very witty.

RELEASED TO TV IN 1973 and directed by Lee Philips, "The Girl Most Likely to..." is a dark dramedy about the sad life of a homely, chubby girl at a Southern Cal university who is ignored and mistreated (Stockard Channing). After an accident and plastic surgery, she can't keep the men away and decides to get revenge on those who abused her. Ed Asner plays the investigative cop. Jim Backus (Gilligan's Island) and Larry Wilcox (ChiPs) are also on hand.

This was Channing's first credited role and she's quite good as the protagonist, both confident and amusing. She put cotton balls in her mouth to make her cheeks look chubby in her ugly duckling scenes during the first half. Her transformation is pretty amazing as she cleaned up to a hottie in a unique way. The tagline was "They treated her like a dog. Now, she's a fox. And she's going to make them pay."

While this is a black comedy/farce, it deals with a real-life issue that millions of women can relate to: The more attractive you are the better you're treated and the more opportunities you have; and vice versa. But what about the person WITHIN? Good or bad looks/figure must be separated from the beauty within; or the ugliness within.

THE FILM RUNS 1 hour, 13 minutes and was shot in Century City, Los Angeles. WRITER: Joan Rivers with Agnes Gallin.

GRADE: B-

Stockard Channing is at her snappy best as Miriam Knight, an ugly duckling that is humiliated by her fiancé and her fellow classmates. After getting into a car accident, she gets plastic surgery and becomes beautiful. She then decides to get back at those who had hurt her. As anyone will tell you, payback is never pretty. She comes up with some creative ways to bump off her tormentors. Meanwhile, a detective (Ed Asner),is on the trail. He is also becoming intrigued with her.

The 70's was a great period for TV movies (Trilogy of Terror, The Night Stalker or The Night Strangler are some great examples). This falls into the category. Great film!

What a great performance! I didn't realize it was made in the early 70's. For some reason I thought "The Girl Most Likely to" was released in the 80's.

I too saw this movie as a young girl and have looked for it in video stores and on cable TV. I would buy it if I could find it for sale.

I looked for it on the internet a while ago and couldn't find it. Looks like we're making progress finding it finally listed here among her many accomplishments.

Although, Stockard is better known for her role in Grease, I first noted her as a formidable actress after seeing her in this movie. Every time I see her in a movie, I think of this one.

I wonder how Stockard feels about it? Stockard should push to get this one released!

Only saw this when it debuted on tv and still remember it. Would love to have it on dvd!

In school, there was at least one kid who always got picked on because they weren't cool; they just didn't fit in. And, when you don't fit in, you are teased--sometimes unmercifully. This is the premise of "The Girl Most Likely To..." Miriam Knight (played by Stockard Channing) is the misfit. Poor Miriam is fat, ugly, and totally unpopular. The kids treat her like dirt and berate her at every turn.. When a car accident leaves her bandaged from head to toe, Miriam is transformed into a beauty. When she notices the wolf-whistles from the guys, she decides to pay her tormenters back "with interest". How Miriam gets her revenge is the real clencher. "The Girl Most Likely To..." is black comedy at its darkest.

I've seen this movie twice. The first time I was 14, and recall finding the first half of the movie very, very funny, and the second, murderous half just plain disturbing. The second time I saw it I was in college, and found the first off dull, and the second half hilarious. (I think I had the same experience with The Ruling Class.)

That was almost 30 years ago, and I'm curious as to how I would react if I saw it today. It is certainly an interesting dark comedy, and it had Stockard Channing and Lou Grant in it, which is a good thing even though all these years later I couldn't tell you what I thought of them. I'd like to see this again someday. Would I like all of it, or none?

Abrasive TV-movie, co-scripted by Joan Rivers, has Stockard Channing nicely-cast as an unattractive college frump who finds a new life (and a taste for revenge) after plastic surgery. Gauche one-liners and an anticlimactic plot ultimately derail the film; there was promise here for a wicked black comedy, but it goes unfulfilled--the teleplay by Rivers and Agnes Gallin just isn't smart enough. The hypocritical nature of the characters (the males, in particular) is supposed to be bitterly amusing, but instead the movie comes off smug and condescending. Channing is eventually as overbearing as her targets; director Lee Philips seems to think pitching this material at top volume will make it funnier, but instead it's just sour.

I saw this made-for-TV movie on ABC's Movie of the Week (or whatever it was called) when it first aired, way back when I was about nine years old. One of the few things I remember about this movie was how striking the difference was between the ugly Stockard Channing, and the hot babe Stockard Channing, a difference effected in the movie by a disfiguring automobile accident followed by some _very_ skillful plastic surgery. (What special makeup effects the makers of the movie used to pull this off, I don't know. I know the hot babe more closely resembled the real Stockard Channing.)

Another thing I remember was recognizing Stockard Channing as the hapless young woman frequently victimized by the Number Painting Guy (portrayed by future "Jeffersons" supporting player Paul Benedict) on "Sesame Street."

A third thing I remember was being introduced to the twin concepts of plastic surgery (I was REALLY impressed by Stockard's transformation) and black comedy. That's how my mother described it when I asked if the movie we were watching was supposed to be funny or not. She then explained that black comedy was something that found humor in something not normally thought of as funny (such as a poor tormented frump who gets her already ugly face ripped to shreds only to have it put back together, only much better looking than it was before, giving the erstwhile frump the opportunity to exact her revenge on the men who had treated her so cruelly when she was still ugly). Having learned this much, I considered this movie quite educational.

Another reviewer expressed the earnest wish that this movie be released on video. I concur; I'd love to see Ms. Channing's transformation again.

I saw this film when it first played on television. It impressed me so much that, in December of 2001, I can still vividly recall some scenes from the film.

Stockard Channing is exceptional as "The Girl Most Likely to..." get revenge on everyone who ever hurt her feelings. As an overweight frump, she gains the pity of the viewer. After a life-altering event, she begins a new life as a great looking, sensuous woman. Systematically, she cleverly eliminates the bullies of her past life.

THIS IS FICTION, so it should never be confused with a viable resolution to one's problems. It is a comedy, and it is meant to be viewed as a comedy. The delightful resolution truly is the icing on this multi-layered cake.

I saw this movie when it first came out, I was ten. I saw it several years later while I was in college and forced my three roommates to watch it, and they loved it. After seeing Stockard Channing in a play that had a short run here in NY a few years ago I decided I needed to stage the movie for others to enjoy. Now it is a reality and the staged version of "The Girl Most Likely To" will run in New York for a week at the end of March! If you haven't seen this, find it. I promise it is worth the search. It is not a girlie flick, guys can find it just as funny. I've never walked away from a movie loving the villain, but in this she is irresistible. I wish it would be re-released but never remade. It is simply HILARIOUS. If you're going to be in NY check out dates and times on our website, www.nativealiens.org.

One of those films where you need the historical context.

TV movies were new and fresh. The idea that you could actually see a full length movie designed for home TV that was free -- well that was pretty amazing back then.

And the story was fresh too. This was long before the endless series of afterschool specials about girls who put on "fat suits" only to discover that boys were superficial and the world treated pretty girls differently.

DU-H! Even more amazing, the film had trouble deciding from scene to scene whether it was hard drama or comedy. (Overloading the cast with comic actors likely shows the true intention.) Channing at this early stage of her career worked without a net. Basically she made the switch from "not to hot" entirely with fake eyebrows and acting chops.

Mainly nostalgic appeal but more fun than you would expect.

College student Miriam Knight (Stockard Channing) is an ugly duckling. She's desperate for a man but nobody likes her. She is bitter and lonely from the endless slights. After a car accident, she gets plastic surgery and becomes a beauty. Instead of going on with her improved life, she decides to take revenge against those who have wronged her. As she murders, police detective Ralph Varone (Edward Asner) investigates.

This is a TV movie on ABC. It's a dark, dark comedy considering that it's network TV. I don't know much about movies of the week back then. This seems a little dark for the medium. Normally, the ugly duckling has an inner beauty. She does not have that. She's bitter. She's needy. It's not that funny. It's hard to laugh at her and there's nothing to laugh with her. She could have kept playing in the pool hall and become one of the guys at least. Let's just say that there is more than one reason nobody is sitting next to her. She's a lot and most of it is unappealing. All of this is perfectly fine and I'm glad that it devolves into murder but it doesn't make it funny. Quite frankly, the plastic surgery is unnecessary. A murderous ugly duckling would have been also interesting.

I just watched this movie on YouTube (10/19) and It's just as funny as I remember when I first saw it in 1973. Stockard Channing was excellent. I'll never understand why she was not a huge star because she is a gifted comedienne. Ed Asner was his usual stalwart self in the role of the detective who falls for her. If you enjoyed "She Devil," you will appreciate this movie.

A young woman gets transformed from her previously homely self to a very attractive woman after a bad accident. Before the accident her ugliness brought her pain and grief through the vicious actions of her so-called friends and acquaintances. After realizing her chameleon-like abilities, she got perfect revenge with a taste of the perpetrators' own medicine resulting in very satisfying outcomes.

In my Dutch movie encyclopedia this film is described as a clever comedy, how they came to this conclusion is a complete mystery to me because there is little clever to discover about this weak comedy.

Channing plays the ugly duckling who is ignored by all the boys on campus and is often made fun of in a lame way.

She regularly comments on this in a laconic way via a voice over, so that you as a viewer get the impression that she is not taking it too seriously.

Once transformed, she then goes completely overboard by murdering everyone who has dumped her or cheated on her, then it comes across as lame and bizarre, furthermore there is little to be found funny about it because the revenge is in any case disproportionate to what what was done to her Moreover, the murders themselves are very childishly thought out and elaborated.

The feminist undertone is also what bothers me the most, murder as a comedic sidekick and justified purely because a woman has been rejected as unattractive.