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Miss Congeniality [2001]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

It's a good thing Sandra Bullock knows her strengths and weaknesses, because without Bullock as star and producer, Miss Congeniality would be an insufferable mess as opposed to being a mildly enjoyable trifle that is custom-made for Bullock's established screen persona. Here she plays nerdy FBI agent Gracie Hart, who is given the horrific pseudonym Gracie Lou Freebush (one example of the film's juvenile tendencies) when assigned to infiltrate a beauty pageant to investigate threats of a terrorist attack. Transforming Bullock from frumpy to stunning is a piece of cake (although she gives pageant coach Michael Caine a run for his money), so the film's premise is trivial at best. More enjoyable is her character's uncouth disdain for pageant contestants and her mistaken perception that they're all a bunch of bimbos. The film nicely charts Gracie's realisation that her pageant makeover provides a much-needed ego boost. In addition to Caine's effortless scene-stealing, pageant host William Shatner and organiser Candice Bergen are smart choices for comedic support (Shatner is a perfect Bert Parks wannabe), but the film desperately needs a credible foundation for its comedy to really pay off. None of the plotting is as smart as predecessors like Beverly Hills Cop in combining procedure with laughs. That leaves Bullock to carry the burden of a comedy that barely works in her favour. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com


What is the Value of the Modern Beauty Contest?
Review date: 2008-02-23 Rating: 10 out of 10

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

A very funny film, with a first rate cast, MISS CONGENIALITY deals with examining the value of an American institution. When I was growing up one of the yearly television events I always recalled was the "Miss America" pageant (as well as the other beauty pageant for "Miss Universe"). Watching Bert Parks' singing the "Miss America" song was on the same level as watching the Thanksgiving Day parade or the Superbowl. In fact, when Parks was fired from "Miss America" in the 1980s, the pageant lost many viewers out of sympathy with Bert.

But that dropping of Parks was an example of what the producers of the show faced in the 1980s. There had been dwindling interest and ratings for several years. Many felt the show was old fashioned because of the idiotic talent sections and the stupid questions (Question:"What do you wish for?"; Usual answer: "World peace!"). Others, especially feminists, were put off by the idea that the contests were demeaning "meat markets" displaying women for sex purposes only - and not really emphasizing women's brains. The pageants are still around, but they lack the exposure they had back in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Even recent scandals have made one question the entire idea more (the best known Miss America of the last twenty years was Vanessa Williams, who lost the title for an infraction of the rules, and subsequently had a successful - and still flourishing - acting career: something that rarely happens to the regular winners).

Here, there has been a bombing (and killing) at the "Miss United States" beauty pageant. As a result an FBI team is assigned to figure out who did this. The team happens to find evidence that suggests a "Unibomber" type did, but they don't know for certain. One of the recent recruits, Sandra Bullock, is to enter the contest as "Miss New Jersey". This is done with the knowledge of the contest's chairperson and spokeswoman (and former "Miss United States") Candace Bergen. Bergen is not happy about the choice: Bullock is all professional FBI agent, with little in the way of a sense of fun, and absolutely no sense of style or even rudimentary knowledge of make-up. The FBI team, headed by Benjamin Bratt, assigns a former member of the "Miss United States" pageant (Michael Caine) to "prettify" and prepare Bullock for her assignment. It almost leads to mutual murder. Caine is a man of style and knows what wins contest audiences. Nothing he sees about Bullock remotely covers this. Bullock finds Caine insulting (he admits to a stylish elitism), and she finds the new regimen impossible. Not only must she learn some talent (they finally pick up on her playing the musical glasses, like Ben Franklin's armonica), but she has to walk with poise, be graceful, and keep her weight under control (some of the best jokes deal with her constant attempts at stealing donuts when she is supposed to be eating carrots and vegetables).

She is also trying to see the value of the contest. Bullock believes in the modern age of feminism, and works hard at being a good agent. She sees the contest as a sexist, out-of-date affair. She also notes it brings out the worst in the other contestants, most of whom are basically good types but are now taking cheap shots at each other in efforts to win the contest. She is particularly protective about "Miss Rhode Island" (Heather Burns), who seems to have self-confidence problems and hopes to improve herself by winning the contest.

Bullock is also finding her current job annoying in a non-professional manner: she and Bratt are both attracted to each other, but she can't find any time to make time for him (nor he for her). If they get together it is for the business of finding the bomber threatening the contest, or for Bratt taking a sullen Bullock for training sessions with a snooty Caine. This is hardly a good way to develop a love affair.

Finally there is the problem of Candace Bergen - a long time supporter of the contest, she sees it as actually helping the winners by giving them scholarships that can assist them in furthering careers in all professions (and thus raising the image of women). And she resents the all-to-easy dismissal Bullock keeps bringing up when she shows what she thinks of the contest.

The film also has it's version of Parks, in it's traditional host played by William Shatner. Certainly not the same as his "Captain Kirk" or even (currently) "Denny Crane", Shatner's "Stan Fields" has a popular following among the older generation, who like his pleasant inane jokes (you can tell after awhile what he's going to say as a joke), and his singing the theme song. His performance is like additional icing on the cake. And a well made cake it is.

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Reviews


Wearisomely awful
Review date: 2007-12-10 Rating: 2 out of 10

My wife insisted on watching this film - I decided to read. Every once in a while I looked up to gauge whether the film offered any hope of improvement. Needless to say it did not. An extraordinarily ill-conceived movie.

A consistently witty and entertaining movie
Review date: 2006-08-10 Rating: 8 out of 10

This film makes for good viewing because there are so many interesting characters in it and so many different things happening from the start to the finish.It wasn't so much a laugh out loud movie but more a consistently witty movie that succeeded in making the characters seem believable even though they,at times,existed in quite unbelievable circumstances.
Michael Caine struggled to civilise Sandra Bullock on screen and if you watch the special features section of the dvd you'll see he struggled to civilise her on the set of Miss Congeniality too!The whole dvd is worth watching.


An excellent comedy
Review date: 2006-04-13 Rating: 8 out of 10

Comedy starring Sandra Bullock as Gracie Hart, a tough girl cop who is obsessed with her job, doesn't have time for relationships and despises anything girly. After bungling a police operation, Gracie is consigned to go undercover as Miss New Jersey in the Miss USA beauty contest, resulting in hilarious elocution and posture lessons from an etiquette coach, excellently played by Michael Caine. As she just about convincingly gets through the extensive eliminating rounds, the cynical Gracie gets to know some of the other girls and is gradually transformed in her outlook to femininity and love. Inevitably she spots the saboteur, saves the day and ends the film as a more understanding heroine.

Miss Congeniality is an excellent, frequently hilarious comedy with a fine central performance by Bullock. Well worth seeing.

Great for ALMOST anyone
Review date: 2005-12-16 Rating: 8 out of 10

This is great! If you are ever feeling down then this will make you feel both beautiful and funny.
The story may be pretty pradictably but if it wasn't then it you wouldn't be able to watch this film when you are too tired to do anything else.
This isn't the film for anyone really into secret service films, but for most people it is a great evening filler, thow probably not for film critics who would pick up on the cheesy ending!
I personaly find that i can watch this film over and over again, which i can't do with others.
If you are looking for a video to watch while winding down then this one is perfect because it not only makes you laugh but has enough action in it to keep you from falling asleep and waking up right at the end!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Sandra Bullock
Candice Bergen
Ernie Hudson
Benjamin Bratt
Michael Caine

Creators:
Sandra Bullock (Primary Contributor)
Michael Caine (Primary Contributor)
Bruce Berman (Producer)
Endrick Lekay (Producer)
Ginger Sledge (Producer)
Katie Ford (Producer)
Katie Ford (Writer)
Caryn Lucas (Writer)
Marc Lawrence (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321900189767
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2001-11-12
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 106 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2000-12-22
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: French (Original Language)
Language: Russian (Original Language)
Language: Spanish (Original Language)
Language: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Arabic (Subtitled)
Language: Romanian (Subtitled)
Language: Bulgarian (Subtitled)

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