2000
Rated: PG-13
Now on video and DVD
Gracie Hart is unpolished, unkept and undesirable. She’s a tough, tomboy FBI agent who lives and breathes her work. When a notorious serial killer threatens to strike at the Miss United States Pageant, operation “Thong” goes into effect. Team leader, Eric Matthews (Benjamin Bratt), enlists Gracie to go undercover as a contestant. “In the know” pageant officials say it will take nothing short of a miracle to make her believable as Ms. New Jersey. They recommend consultant, Victor Melling (Michael Caine), who takes one look at Gracie and threatens to quit before he’s even started. Instead, an army of beauty technicians descends upon Gracie, transforming her from butch to babe. Watch out! A little more polishing from Victor and Gracie finds firepower in her femininity--a force to be reckoned with, whether crook or cute cop.
This is Sandra Bullock at her best! From her lumbering, manner less, tough chick portrayal of tomboy Gracie to her out-of-her-element, clumsy, but beautiful Ms. New Jersey, she’s perfect. Whether it’s her obnoxious snorting laugh, her sharp delivery of a zinging line or the killer way she takes a tumble, she’s guaranteed to make you laugh.
Benjamin Bratt is solid and sexy as Sandra’s love interest. Flip, but formidable--a man who can deliver a line and take a punch.
Michael Caine is outstanding as Gracie’s snooty, sarcastic and skeptical tutor. The chemistry between he and Bullock is potent. Their timing is impeccable. A great comedic duo that’s pleasurable to watch.
William Shatner plays pageant official, Stan Fields, in typical Shatner fashion, making the character cheesy and hilarious as only he can. Candice Bergen shines as the zealous, pageant queen bee, Kathy Morningside.
I’ll just say it flat out -- I LOVED Miss Congeniality! This is by far my favorite Sandra Bullock film and made me laugh out loud over and over again. The pageant finale is downright hilarious! Speaking strictly from a romantic comedy perspective this movie definitely has a romance, but it’s secondary. Therefore I give the movie three-and-a-half hearts as a romantic comedy, but rate it much higher on a strict comedy scale. RUN, DON’T WALK to your nearest video store for this one.
CAST
Sandra Bullock as Gracie Hart/Gracie Lou Freebush
Michael Caine as Victor Melling
Benjamin Bratt as Eric Matthews
William Shatner as Stan Fields
Ernie Hudson as McDonald
Candace Bergen as Kathy Morningside
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