Miss Arizona

"Miss Arizona" depends on the group of women bonding, but writer-director Autumn McAlpin's script doesn't believably sell the situations that lead to their connection.

The well-intentioned comedy never fully comes together to make a cohesive film, but there are glimpses of something interesting amidst its flaws.

"Miss Arizona" alternates, not altogether gracefully, from heavy, tear-jerking moments to slapstick comedy, sometimes within the same sequence.

At its core, Miss Arizona is a wistful, sweet-natured ensemble piece for five good actresses -- along with Braddy and Lively, Shoniqua Shandai, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson and Otmara Marrero round out the strong quintet.

The lack of nuance with which patriarchy and heteronormativity are cast as the source of all that is wrong with the world don't disqualify the film so much as render it uninteresting.

Female friendships rule in well-intentioned indie comedy.