A One Mann’s Movies review of “Miss Congeniality”. (2000, 4*, 12A).
It’s the 25th April which is of course Miss Congeniality day! And if you need that explaining, you need to watch this movie, particularly if you’ve never seen it before…. for it is a comedy delight showing off the very best of Sandra Bullock’s comedic talents.
This got shown on the big screen some months ago now, but has sat in my draft reviews list awaiting completion. If I can’t publish it today, when can I?!
One Mann’s Movies Rating:
Plot:
The Miss United States competition is under threat from a bomber. An FBI agent needs to be placed on the inside. But the only option seems to be tomboy klutz Gracie Hart (Sandra Bullock).
Certification:
UK: 12A; US: PG-13. (From the BBFC website: “Moderate bad language, sex references, violence”.)
Talent:
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Michael Caine, Benjamin Bratt, Candice Bergen, William Shatner, Ernie Hudson, John DiResta, Heather Burns, Melissa De Sousa, Steve Monroe, Deirdre Quinn, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Asia De Marcos.
Directed by: Donald Petrie.
Written by: Marc Lawrence, Katie Ford & Caryn Lucas.
Running Time: 1h 49m.
Review:
Positives:
- Gracie (Sandra Bullock) is a wonderfully realised comic character. Bullock is, obviously, an attractive woman, but the start of the film (together with some opening scenes of her as a young girl, meting out playground justice) portrays her as a tomboy, matching her male colleagues at drinking and with an hilarious snorting laugh. Her journey through to a passable model is managed, grudgingly, by disgraced stylist Victor Melling (Michael Caine). Caine is just wonderful in the role, shimmering with perfect comic timing.
- As well as that classic line about “the perfect date” from Miss Rhode Island (Heather Burns), the film is chock full of laugh-out-loud moments. Some of them – the mark of a classic comedy – have integrated their way into our family lexicon, notably:
- “You think I’m gorgeous, you want to kiss me… You want to hug me… You want to love me… You want to smooch me…”.
- “Yes, yes. You wear the crown, be the crown, you ARE the crown!”
- The supporting cast is also terrific with the bizarre but perfect casting of William Shatner as the egotistical host of the show: a real change of pace for Shatner but that’s what makes it hilarious. And an equally distinctive bit of casting is Candice Bergen as the show queen Kathy Morningside.
Negatives:
- All comedies in my book shouldn’t try to push the run time by more than 100 minutes, and this could perhaps have 10 minutes trimmed off it to make it even sharper and leaner.
- Although only 25 years old, it is still a film of its time and a few of the more misogynist scenes are a bit cringey: particularly one of photoshopping swimwear onto different FBI officer’s bodies.
Summary Thoughts:
It’s not Shakespeare, but it is one of the most enjoyable lightweight comedies of the noughties.
Where to watch?
Trailer:
The trailer for the film is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwrEnPYHsyQ.
Subscribe
Don’t forget, you can subscribe to One Mann’s Movies to receive future reviews by email right here. No salesman will call!