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Movies / On DVD / Miss Congeniality
Miss Congeniality

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Miss Congeniality (2000)

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Reviews Counted:112

Fresh:45

Rotten:67

Average Rating:5/10

Consensus: Though critics say Bullock is funny and charming, she can't overcome a bad script that makes the movie feel too much like a fluffy, unoriginal sitcom.

Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: The Miss United States Pageant, hallowed and revered home of American beauty for the past fifty years, has received a threat from one of the country's most infamous criminals, the "Citizen." The... The Miss United States Pageant, hallowed and revered home of American beauty for the past fifty years, has received a threat from one of the country's most infamous criminals, the "Citizen." The F.B.I. has been tracking this psychopath forever as his rampage of bombings, shootings and arson terrorizes the nation. This may finally be their chance to nab him.

The plan? Simple. Get one of their agents into the pageant, undercover, as a contestant. Fix the judging so she's on stage right to the end, in the "top five." Equip her with a state of the art surveillance equipment. Finding that agent? Not so simple.

A computer search of all available female agents turns out a decidedly unphotogenic group, except for Special Agent Gracie Hart (SANDRA BULLOCK). She looks terrific on the computer in a bathing suit; she might even fool everyone in an evening gown, especially if she puts a brush to her hair. But Gracie doesn't own a brush. Or a dress. Or high heels. Or as her fellow agent and head of the undercover operation, Eric Matthews (BENJAMIN BRATT) puts it; she's a "car wreck." And Gracie has no desire to join the ranks of what she refers to as a "bunch of bikini stuffers who only want world peace."

Which is why the Bureau hires beauty pageant consultant Victor Melling (MICHAEL CAINE) to transform Gracie -- or as he re-names her, "Dirty Harriet" into Gracie Lou Freebush -- the perfect pageant contestant. Henry Higgins had a day at the beach compared to what Vic is up against in beautifying a woman "without a detectable smidgen of estrogen." But the fate of the pageant hangs in the balance, and considering that Gracie's refusal to follow orders has already placed her job in jeopardy, this may be her last chance to make it in her beloved Bureau. [More]

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Candice Bergen, Michael Caine, William Shatner

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Candice Bergen, Michael Caine, William Shatner, Benjamin Bratt, Ernie Hudson, Heather Burns, Steve Monroe, John DiResta, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Deirdre Quinn

Director: Donald Petrie

Director: Donald Petrie
Screenwriter: Marc Lawrence, Caryn Lucas, Katie Ford
Producer: Sandra Bullock
Composer: Edward Shearmur
Studio: Warner Bros.

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for Miss Congeniality

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1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating; UK critics are listed first)
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While there may not be many surprises, there's little to dislike either.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Derek Adams
Derek Adams
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A movie that seems to have no potential at all and still works remarkably well.

Full Review Source: UK Critic | comment Comment
06/04/01
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
UK Critic

The title refers to the Miss America pageant award given to "the person who was nicest to everyone," and this seems perfectly apt for Bullock’s winning performance.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
10/30/02
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Bullock has such excellent timing, and such a superb sense of physical comedy, that we would happily watch her (and we have!) in much worse films than this.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
12/10/01
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

A genuine crowdpleaser boasting a charming star turn, Miss Congeniality is indeed difficult to dislike, but hey, sometimes it's worth the effort.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
03/23/01
William Thomas
William Thomas
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

If you're expecting action and comedy, you'll find this film has little of either.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
04/16/01
Nick Cramp
Nick Cramp
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Despite the film's predictable trappings, Bullock shines, tackling the physical comedy with bodacious aplomb.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
12/22/00
E! Online

[Caine's] performance is probably as deft as the one he gave last year in The Cider House Rules.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
12/22/00
Houston Chronicle

Watching Michael Caine and Sandra Bullock interact testily with each other is this film's special treat.

Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | comment Comment
08/02/02
Betty Jo Tucker
Betty Jo Tucker
ReelTalk Movie Reviews

Petrie's formula of keeping it light and bright, and not too confusing, works.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
12/22/00
Bob Thompson
Bob Thompson
Jam! Movies

The movie is whipped into a froth with ... skill and humor -- just like those Doris Day comedies.

comment Comment
12/22/00
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

Has a lot of charm, which accounts for its success.

Full Review Source: Matinee Magazine | comment Comment
05/04/01
Chuck Rudolph
Chuck Rudolph
Matinee Magazine

Sandra Bullock, who also helped produce the movie, simply shines as Gracie Hart.

Full Review Source: CinemaSense.Com | comment Comment
02/07/01
Cornell & Petricelli
Cornell & Petricelli
CinemaSense.Com

In producing Miss Congeniality, [Bullock has] cast herself ideally, so as to show off her tomboyish giddiness, with a hint of sexy brashness.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia City Paper | comment Comment
02/07/01
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
Philadelphia City Paper

It's inoffensive, dim-witted fun.

Full Review Source: IFilm | comment Comment
12/22/00
Dave White
Dave White
IFilm

Donald Petrie has made a fun film, not a great film, but fun.

Full Review Source: Greenwich Village Gazette | comment Comment
12/21/00
Eric Lurio
Eric Lurio
Greenwich Village Gazette

A delightful, endearing little comedy with a wonderfully clever script and great performances from Bullock and Michael Caine.

Full Review Source: Film Blather | comment Comment
12/22/00
Eugene Novikov
Eugene Novikov
Film Blather

No review available.

comment Comment
10/30/01
Garth Franklin
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons

[Bullock's] spunky humor and vibrant screen presence haven't been used this well since While You Were Sleeping.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
12/22/00
Glenn Whipp
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Daily News

You could do a lot worse during the holiday season than this sparkling, congenial tale.

Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
12/18/00
Harvey S. Karten
Harvey S. Karten
Compuserve
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
all

Latest News for Miss Congeniality

July 18, 2005: In Other News: Marital Edition...Jude Law, Sandra Bullock, and Frankie Muniz
In Other News is back, with marital highs and lows alike to keep you gossip-mongers happy...starting with "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" star Jude Law, whose... More...

June 16, 2005: In Other News...Sandra Bullock, Kirsten Dunst, and Brangelina
"Crash" star Sandra Bullock is speeding along the way to wedded bliss -- US Weekly reports she has set a date with boyfriend Jesse James to marry next month. More...

March 26, 2005: Box Office: “Guess Who” Topped The Box Office?
Two comedies battled for box office supremacy this Easter weekend and the interracial romantic comedy “Guess Who,” starring Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mac, handily defeated “Miss... More...

March 24, 2005: Critical Consensus: "Miss Congeniality" Armed, But Unfabulous
It’s been a while since Sandra Bullock’s last appearance on the big screen – 2002’s romantic comedy hit, “Two Weeks Notice,” co-starring Hugh Grant. She returns with “Miss... More...

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