I'll have to preface this review by stating that Ms. Bullock has been my favorite actress since I saw the great movie Speed. I've tried, but haven't suceeded, in enjoying every movie she's been in since then. Setting my personal bias aside, I still believe that Miss Congeniality is a great film.

Miss Congeniality stars Sandra Bullock as Gracie Hart, an unkempt, masculine FBI agent, who, when a letter from a famous serial killer is recovered, must go undercover at the Miss United States pageant to catch him. In a role that isn't new to her, the transformation from throw-away to a keeper (similar to her earlier film, Love Potion No. 9), Sandra does a great job with this part. She pulls of both parts extremely well and along with Benjamin Bratt, as her boss, Eric, injects a fair amount of humor into this film.

Miss Congeniality will most likely be panned by critics who will pick it apart, as I do most other films. But I just can't do it to this one. I enjoyed myself from start to finish. My friend who I went with (not a huge fan of Sandra himself), absolutely loved it. And what isn't there to love? Sandra is gorgeous and does a great job as the unkempt, unpolished FBI agent who needs to learn the ins and outs of the beauty pageant circuit, and at the same time befriend the other contestants to figure out who the killer is. Benjamin Bratt injects a certain machismo into his role, as he wants to move up through the FBI and will alienate his friends to do so. But the real surprise of the film was Michael Caine. He plays the consultant to Gracie as she needs to undergo not only a physical transformation, but also as she needs to learn manners, grace, and poise.

I was reading another critic's site and he starts his review off with, "This movie is all about Sandra Bullock. If you like her, like her personality, her vibrancy, her humor, her goofiness, then you will more than likely enjoy this [movie]." And that I did. This movie will most likely be a career-booster for Bullock, as she should have taken some time off after the ugly 28 Days. In short, Miss Congeniality is fun. It's an enjoyable movie. You should like it. If you like Sandra Bullock, you'll like it even more.

Genres: Comedy
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 120 minutes
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