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. Only Bullock's fans could really appreciate this fluff (even then they'll wish its ripe premise had been more intelligently handled), but it's not without some highlights to accompany Bullock's reliable charms. Here she plays clumsy, nerdy FBI agent Gracie Hart, who is given the horrific pseudonym Gracie Lou Freebush (one example of the movie's juvenile tendencies) when assigned to infiltrate a beauty pageant to investigate threats of a terrorist attack.

Bullock and Caine make for one heckofa comedic team...

`Miss Congeniality' is just another film in the long line of films that help further impress my utter adoration for Sandra Bullock. In fact, she is probably my all time favorite comedic actress, and lord knows no one does a romantic comedy quite like Sandra. `Miss Congeniality' is less a romantic comedy and more, well, a comedy. Sure, there is that repressed sexual tension between Bullock and Bratt, and yes they do inevitably get together, but like the sequel (surprisingly hysterical as well) these are comedic films with the romanticizing a mere undertone. The film focuses on Bullock in all her comedic glory without letting a meddlesome romantic subplot ruin a good thing. Bullock owns this movie and it's thanks to her that the film is so enjoyable.

The film follows Gracie Hart, a middle aged homely looking FBI agent, as she tries to stop a terrorist attack from happening during the Miss USA pageant. She is beautified and entered into the contest with guarantied top ten placement. To help her seem legit she's given an assistant, or trainer, Victor Melling, who is nothing less than displeased with her. The heart of the film of course is about loving oneself and really learning to be the person you desire to be. Gracie learns this full swing as she enters the pageant believing that pageants in general are pointless and that everyone involved are nothing but bimbos and leaves realizing that these girls are really good people and that there is nothing wrong with loving yourself. In fact the pageant was the best thing that every happened to Gracie.

The acting aside from Bullock is great. Michael Caine is hysterical as Victor and quite the scene stealer. Together Bullock and Caine are dynamic. In fact my one main quarrel with the sequel was the fact that Caine was not in the film. Candice Bergman is also great as the pageant spokeswoman who has outspoken distain for what Gracie's inclusion is doing to the pageant, and surprisingly William Shatner is perfectly cast. I just abhor his `Priceline' commercials but here he is hysterical. The pageant girls are also well cast, especially Heather Burns who plays Cheryl, the perky baton twirler from Rhode Island. In fact the only member of the cast I was less that impressed with was Benjamin Bratt, but he's not in a whole lot of the film to his lack of magnetism is forgivable.

In the end `Miss Congeniality' is a great time at the movies (or in the living room, whatever) and will surely be enjoyable for multiple viewings. Sure, it's far from realistic, and far from perfect, but Bullock is spot on and the rest of the cast make this a worthwhile endeavor.

She's a wiener!**

** From the lyrics to Tom Jones' hit song "She's a Lady" (played over the closing credits):

Well, she's all you'll ever want
She's the kind I'd like to flaunt
And take to deener.

Well she always knows her place
She's got style, she's got grace
She's a wiener!

I put off watching this movie for a long time, as I generally don't laugh at the comedies Hollywood produces these days. When I did finally watch, however, I had a wonderful hour and a half.It is an absurd situation - an FBI agent (Sandra Bullock) must transform herself from a tough tomboy to a beauty pageant contestant in just two days in order to thwart a unibomber-type domestic terrorist who has targeted the Miss United States pageant.

Bullock is charming, as is the entire supporting cast - including William Shatner who seems to be having fun in his Bert Parks-like pageant emcee role. Michael Caine glides lightly in his loafers as Bullock's handler and makeover artiste.

All in all, a very enjoyable way to spend an evening. Congratulations to everyone involved in making a light and fun piece of entertainment. "Miss Congeniality" is a real wiener!

vampire Heart

I have both movies Miss Congeniality and they are funny comedys. I love Sandra Bullock as an actress.I have other movies she has done and they are also great.