Miss Congeniality (2000)

3 Stars (out of 4)

Beauty Calls

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy Miss Congeniality on DVD.

Sandra Bullock (who also produces) takes a lame idea of a script, splashes her considerable allure all over it, and comes away with an amiable, light-hearted holiday charmer. She plays a frumpy FBI agent who receives a makeover in order to go undercover at a beauty pageant to catch a killer. It's pretty stupid and far-fetched, but Bullock's adorable, down-to-earth bounciness brings many scenes to life. Michael Caine turns in a wonderful comic performance as her beauty consultant. William Shatner and Candice Bergen are also funny in small roles as the pageant coordinators. Benjamin Bratt plays Bullock's love interest, though he doesn't quite have the presence needed to remain noticeable while Bullock is on screen. Bullock won me over completely as she taunts him, singing, "you think I'm gooooor-geous! you want to kiiiissss me!" This is the kind of role she's perfect in, as a comic centerpiece and not having to share the spotlight.

DVD Details: To help promote the 2005 sequel, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, Warner Home Video has released a new "deluxe edition." I've now seen the film more than once and find that it stands up as one of Bullock's best efforts. She's a truly exceptional presence in movies, capable of stealing scenes from just about any other living actor, but for the most part has not had roles worthy of her. This new disc comes with two full-length commentary tracks, a funny one by Bullock and the co-screenwriter Marc Lawrence, and a second one by director Donald Petrie (Grumpy Old Men). We also get the original theatrical trailer, three deleted scenes (5 mins.), two featurettes: Preparing for the Pageant (7 mins.) and The Pageant (8 mins.), the amusing "Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Beauty Queen" quiz, hosted by William Shatner, and finally the obligatory sneak-peak at the sequel (8 mins.) and a $12 coupon toward movie tickets.