Customer Reviews

Miss Congeniality

5 star:		(189)
4 star:		(91)
3 star:		(42)
2 star:		(17)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

I am sorry but I get so tired of the poor reviews so many critics write about films such as this movie that are pure enjoyment and entertainment. This movie is just that kind of movie...there is never a dull moment and isn't that part of what movies are all about. Sandra Bullock is perfect for this role and while the premise sounds a little lame before you see the movie after seeing it I think anyone will be pleasantly surprised. If you are expecting an Oscar style movie...no you won't get it. If you are expecting to laugh alot and be entertained...you will be. This movie is totally delightful and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is funny, light, laughable. I loved it and I think anyone else will too if you allow yourself to jsut be entertained. Bullock is so funny and so great at this type of movie and she learns allot about herself throughout the film so there is character growth too. It will also give you a new appreciation for what the women in beauty pageants put themselves through. Bottom line...THIS IS A GREAT MOVIE!!

Let's not be confused: this movie is not intended to be more than it is, a light comedy that highlights Sandra Bullock's considerable talents. It succeeds admirably with its goal. "Miss Congeniality" is funny and well-paced, slapstick in parts, but all Sandra Bullock.

Gracie Hart (Bullock) is a rough and tumble FBI agent who is both clumsy and skilled in self-defense, a woman who pounds her punching bag after a frustrating day at work. She is the unlikely candidate to go undercover at a beauty pageant, but she's the only one in the bureau office who looks good in a computerized bathing suit. Michael Caine is hilarious as the man in charge of making her over in two days, and Benjamin Bratt is convincingly clueless and charming as her friend and sudden supervisor. Candice Bergen and William Shatner, as the pageant's directors, are brilliant casting choices.

While Sandra Bullock goes overboard at times making her character uncouth and uncoordinated, she completely carries this movie with her on-screen presence. Her makeover is convincing because Bullock never allows us to forget what lies underneath the sheen.

The best part of the DVD is not the movie itself. It's the running commentary of Bullock and co-writer Marc Lawrence found in the special features menu. I almost watched this movie twice in one sitting as I listened to them joke and tell the background of the filming and writing from the beginning to the end of the movie. They were as entertaining as the movie itself. If you buy or rent the DVD, don't miss this feature!

This is not a movie about an FBI agent who goes underocover at a beauty pageant. Nor is this a movie about a frumpy girl who finds some self esteem. The plot is only there to create the flimsiest of excuses for some world class comic and ensemble acting.

This film is simply about brilliant humor and the joy of performance. Does anyone criticize the Marx Brothers films because Groucho makes an unlikely African explorer or dictator?

Sandra Bullock's performance is one of the finest comic performances in a generation or two. She deserved, at the very least, an Oscar nomination. Her timing is impeccable and her willingness to uglify herself goes far beyond the level of what most actresses would do. Also, her accent and her gestures are absolutely authentic Jersey City.

The other actors are also wonderful here especially Michael Caine, who is flat out brilliant. William Shatner and Candice Bergen are wonderful. You forget their previous roles as they are so perfectly cast. The other girls in the pageant are marvelous. Even the small part of a video technician is hilarious.

I disagree with the other reviewers about Benjamin Bratt. Of course he's not believable as an FBI agent and he's stiff as a board: he's supposed to be. He's a straight man, pure and simple and his performance is clever, his line readings always surprising.

Great comedy is not about believability or plot. It's about timing and acting. It is one of the most difficult challenges for actors, for writers, and for directors. Miss Congeniality is, in my opinion, one of the great comedies of the decade, up there with the Austin Powers films, albeit quite different. I've seen it five times, three times in the theater, twice at home. I could see it again at the drop of a hat.

I hope that the producer (Sandra Bullock) continues to make such marvelous films. Like Clint Eastwood, she may have to wait years for the critics to catch up, but they will. She is that great.

I find it hard to believe that the so called "experts" and believe me, i use the term extremely lightly and with great hesitation, could give this excellent movie bad reviews. Are we talking about the same film here?

By reading the reviews contributed by "ordinary" people, the ones who pay to go and see the films, i was not at all suprised to see, that for the most part, they were positive. This film is thoroughly enjoyable and utterly hilarious. Yes, its not the number one movie of all time... but it does it claim to be.

This movie is all about fun. The actors aren't afraid to poke fun at themselves, and in return for their efforts, are rewarded by getting a chuckle out of the audience. The script is blessed with witty dialogue.. and some of the one liners, have to be heard to be believed, especially those Michael Cain ( who plays Bullock's pageant coach ) has the luck to deliver.

Of course with the on-screen chemistry between Bullock and Bratt,the romance angle is well covered. As too, is the action, and if you look quick enough, you might even spy a dramatic moment or two...

Overall, this is a most delightful, uplifting comedy, that delivers when it comes to laughs. Caine is at his comedic best, Bratt gives it his all, and Bullock shines.

No, "experts", you are quite right, it's not brain surgery.

Its a movie..and a brilliant one at that.

The critics panned this movie for not being "deep enough" or "believable." Well, maybe they're right, but it was funny; and isn't that what a comedy is supposed to be? (I guess the fans had the last word. Over 100 million dollars, while up against "Castaway" (over 200 million) and "What Women Want" (over 175 million). And considering it fought a word-of-mouth battle against the critics, that's pretty impressive.)

I convinced my wife (who doesn't go to theaters) to watch this movie with me. Right after it was over, she said she wanted to see it again. It was funny from the beginning to the end, and I've never been to a movie that the audience so obviously enjoyed.

Sandra Bullock was in her element in this movie, and hit on all cylinders. (She's a master of physical humor). I got the impression she had as much fun making this movie, as we did watching it. Michael Caine, Benjamin Bratt, William Shatner and Candice Bergen were all well cast. Michael Caine really impressed me as a comedian. If you like comedies that actually make laugh, you'll love this movie.

There's trouble in Texas and a lot of laughs in store for the audience, as Sandra Bullock stars in the engaging satirical comedy, "Miss Congeniality," directed by Donald Petrie. When the possible threat of violence at the "Miss United States" beauty pageant surfaces, the F.B.I. meets the challenge by sending in one of their own agents, Gracie Hart (Bullock), undercover as one of the contestants. There's one slight problem, however; Gracie is the right agent for the job, but she'd be more comfortable wearing a championship WWF belt than striking a pose in a swimsuit. Not to worry, though, because pageant organizer Kathy Morningside (Candice Bergen) has just the man to transform her into the beauty she must be, and he has all of two days in which to do it. The man of the hour (and the Professor Higgins to Gracie's Eliza) is none other than Victor Melling (Michael Caine), who has made a career out of grooming young ladies for the formidable task of competing in the arena of the Most Beautiful. But with Gracie, he has his work cut out for him. She's good with her dukes, has a penchant for pizza and beer, has a walk more like John Wayne than a future Miss U.S. and snorts when she laughs. All of which adds up to a good time for the audience, if not for Victor, as he goes to work. The story, while not altoghether original, is entertaining fare that is handled well by director Petrie and is, most importantly, what a comedy should be: Funny. For a comedy to work, a number of elements have to come together and gel; in this case, it's a combination of a concept that is credible, dialogue that is clever and gets laughs without being forced, some good physical bits (including a sparse use of slapstick that is effective), and a pace that keeps it all fresh as the story unfolds. What really puts this one over, however, are the stars, Bullock and Caine. The winsome Bullock demonstrates her versatility by pulling out all the stops physically, while creating a character that is totally believable, abandoning the safety net of the glamorous, girl-next-door, America's sweetheart type to make Gracie a very real, earthy person. And with all that goes on, it would be easy to ignore the emotional development she brings to the character as well, but it is there; by the end of the film we see a different Gracie, one of changed attitude and broadened horizons. And it works because Bullock makes it sincere and genuine, which makes Gracie an endearing, memorable character. The same can be said of Michael Caine's performance as the effeminate Victor. With his usual charm, he plunges into Melling's skin and paints him with fine strokes of nuance and wit, while managing to avoid stereotype as he creates a character that is uniquely his own. And the fact that Caine and Bullock play so well off of one another takes the movie to a higher level on that regard alone. Notable in supporting roles are the likable Benjamin Bratt , as Agent Eric Matthews, who watches Gracie's transformation with great interest; William Shatner, doing a camp turn as Stan, the "Bert Parks" of the Miss U.S. Pageant; Heather Burns, as Cheryl, "Miss Rhode Island;" and Bergen, who gives a winning performance as Morningside, the former beauty queen. Rounding out the cast are Ernie Hudson (McDonald), Wendy Raquel Robinson (Miss California), Diedre Quinn (Miss Texas) and Melissa De Sousa (Miss New York). A funny, feel-good movie, "Miss Congeniality" is a satisfying comedy that will make you laugh and leave you with a smile on your face, with performances by Bullock and Caine that are worth the price of admission alone. For a solid evenings entertainment, check this one out; you'll be glad you did.

"Miss Congeniality" is a Hilarious Crowd Pleaser; It Restored my Faith in Sandra as a Great Comedic Actress (after "Hope Floats" and "Gun shy" I was Faithless and somewhat Depressed) and it proves Benjamin Bratt has Definite Leading Man Abilities.

The Story places Sandra as an FBI agent more obsessed with Catching Bad guys then Looking Good. When the Miss America Pageant gets a Bomb Threat, she is sent in to Infiltrate the Pageant and Stop the Bombing.

Obviously, the Storyline Alone is a Comedy Goldmine, and the film never misses a chance to make a joke. Michael Caine plays Sandra's Pageant Trainer. It's his job to get her ready, it's also his job to steal the film and hog all the best lines, which he does Brilliantly.

Overall, It may not be the Funniest Film ever made, but I had an Ear-to-Ear smile for the Entire Running Time.

MISS CONGENIALITY is Sandra Bullock's most assured work to date after a string of maudlin performance in melodrama like Hope Floats and 28 Days. Bullock's fun and comedic timing is infectious - and it's no doubt that Ms. Congeniality warms up to the screen. She portrays Gracie Hart - who ironically, not what her name suggests, is without any demeanour and grace. She is hard-biting, cynical and is sent on a mission to prevent terrorists from creating havoc in a beauty pageant. There lies the romance with Benjamin Bratt, her partner - and her friendship with the contestants, as well as a bucketload of fun and laughter with her antics.

Ms. Congeniality is saved from its lack of originality after former movies like Drop Dead Gorgeous explores the superficial and the bitching around beauty contestants by the miraculous supporting casts. Lending hand is Michael Caine, who with his dry wits, sparkles as a consultant who trains Gracie and Candice Bergen of Murphy Brown fame, lights up the screen with her poise and screen maturity. Sandra Bullock has never been this radiant before after seeing her in a chain of dour, emotionally-drenched movies and the energy brimming in her actually made her, fortunately, refreshing and hilarious.

It is light-hearted entertainment at its best with an ensemble of seasoned supporting casts and fluffy romance. Sandra Bullock has never looked this good - so just buy it and have a barrel of skin-deep pleasure if you want to steer clear of heavy movies.

I held off purchasing (let alone watching) this movie for awhile, not particularly attracted by the previews I'd seen. I'm glad I finally got a chance to see this delight of a film. It showcases the comedic talents of Sandra Bullock, who's also supported by a strong cast of other actors - including Michael Caine, Benjamin Bratt and Candice Bergen. I found Bullock to be believable as klutzy FBI agent Gracie Hart, forced to go undercover as a beauty pageant contestant. I really enjoyed the moments in this film when Gracie Hart didn't quite get on top of the whole beauty pageant mentality, when she slipped out of character and lets the real person, flaws and all, show. Michael Caine is superb as the man behind the woman, playing a gay beauty consultant who is nearly overwhelmed by the challenge of transforming Bullock/Gracie Hart into a credible pageant contestant. As if this weren't enough, the DVD has all the extras that provide a close-up look at the making of this film. There are some funny out takes, two documentaries, two feature-length audio commentaries (one with Bullock and co-screenwriter Mark Lawrence, the other with director Donald Petrie)...and much more. Listening to her commentary, I felt like Bullock revealed a bit of the person behind the actress and this was a special treat.

Sandra Bullock has to be one of the most appealing actresses in Hollywood. Her screen chemistry is amazing, and she takes control of every scene she's in. Miss Congeniality is no exception to this rule, although the movie she's surrounded by just isn't that great.

The movie centers around a frumpy F.B.I. agent (Bullock) who must go undercover as a beauty queen (yeah, there's a real stretch) in order to catch a criminal. The plot line is paper thin, which is irrelevant in a movie like this. The audience is there to laugh, not be bogged down in the semantics of the film.

Most of the laughs come from the supporting cast of beauty queens, although Bullock has a line here and there that made me chuckle. Michael Caine garners laughs too as Bullock's beauty coach.

Bullock does a great job going from clunky to graceful, and Caine does a fine job as well. There aren't any scenes that are particularly memorable, and the jokes are largely forgettable. This is why I'm forced to give this movie 3 stars rather than 4. I really enjoyed the film for what it was; a throw-away comedy.