Miss Congeniality (2000)

By now most of you probably know (or noticed) I'm not a big comedy fan, as I generally don't find them funny. (I refuse point blank to watch spoofs like Scary Movie, Meet the Spartans, etc). I must admit, though, I enjoyed this film more than anticipated. Maybe mostly thanks to Sandra Bullock's naturally funny acting. Maybe because Sandra Bullock is one of my favorite actresses (just not in 'Murder by Numbers', where she ruined the film in my opinion!). I also immensely enjoyed Michael Caine in this film. The interesting-ish plot was wonderfully done, me thinks. I did find Sandra's bad girl impression a bit forced, as it doesn't really suit her, but the 'transformation' was fun to watch. The whole set-up of Candice Bergen's character together with her son's evil plot was a bit silly, though, and not really believable. It could have been done so much better. Oh, and I loved Bosson's version of 'One in a million' at the pagaent! Beautiful song.

Sandra Bullock, in her infinite grunginess and masculinity, plays an FBI agent, alongside Benjamin Bratt and Ernie Hudson. When the bureau becomes aware of a bomb threat in the Miss United States pageant, Sandra is sent to go undercover as one of the contestants. She's been sufficiently uglied-up in the first part of the movie, so when Michael Caine gives her a makeover and lets her make her grand entrance in a lavender tube dress, she wows the characters in the film as well as the audience! Miss Congeniality is superbly hilarious, and a fantastic hallmark to the end of the never-to-be-repeated 90s comedies. In this lovely genre, that you can only truly appreciate if you lived through it, there are politically incorrect jokes, hardly risqué sexual innuendo, and underlying old-school values. The very premise that a masculine, ugly woman would have to be given a makeover in order to compete in a beauty contest for work would never get made into a film today. But, in the 90s, it was a great idea, and this film was wildly popular at the box office.Candice Bergen, doing an excellent Martha Stewart impression, and William Shatner, another politically incorrect character, are the heads of the Miss United States pageant, and Heather Burns is one of the airhead contestants. If you really hate Sandra Bullock, you probably won't like the movie. But, if you like her or are neutral, you'll split your sides with laughter. She and her costars are pretty hilarious, and everyone in the audience, whether they're an agent or contestant at heart, will find something to laugh at. Watch the preview, since it's a pretty accurate representation of the film, and if you crack up, you'll want to add Miss Congeniality to your collection. I saw it in the theaters when I was ten, and I haven't stopped laughing since.

One of the entries on the "Goofs" page, states that Cheryl says he memorized all 50 contestants but says that's wrong, there'd be 51 because of the District of Columbia. That would be wrong as well because Cheryl wouldn't need to memorize herself so there would in fact be only 50 contestants.

Sandra Bullock just plays this cardboard cutout tough character to the hilt..does she think she's a boy with girl's clothes on? No subtleties in this cartoon-like scenario. They show a closeup of her eating red steak with a beer like she's a female werewolf or something. She's a judo defense expert but can't balance herself to wear high heels..well..funny, but not over again too often and it doesn't make sense. William Shatner shows up as the contest emcee. He's surprisingly youthful considering he retired from Star Trek and doesn't do very many films or TV shows anymore. Too many clues are handed out ahead of time about the real villain..Candace Bergen, the former beauty queen who runs the Miss U.S. pageant. Why not keep it a surprise? We're even clued in to where the bomb is hiding and the plans for it but no one bothers to tell Gracie. She still instantly knows to rush over and save the winner the last minute before detonation. The film is overlong and would make a better sitcom like Family Ties that writer Marc Lawrence also scripted.