Miss Congeniality

If the crew that made this misfiring Sandra Bullock comedy--writer, director, stars, everybody--were to get together for another movie, one with a less idiotic plot than a tomboy FBI agent going undercover at a beauty pageant, I'd be gung ho to see it, since the level of talent and amount of good humor that goes to waste in this gimmicky, so-stupid-it-stops-being-funny star vehicle is phenomenal. Bullock's screwball performance as a clodhopping, quarrelsome, graceless lout of a foible-prone FBI agent would be comic gold if the boat anchor of a story weren't dragging it down. Her transformation in the hands of a fey beauty consultant (Michael Caine) makes her a visual knockout, even as her hilarious habitual pratfalls belie her charm. But a mad bomber plot device is a truly pathetic way to push a comedy forward, and while good-for-a-laugh supporting perfs include Candice Bergen as the high-hatted pageant supervisor, William Shatner as the show's host and Benjamin Bratt as Bullock's suddenly turned-on FBI partner, Miss Congeniality is ultimately a disappointing miss. A strong, optional purchase considering the sell-through price. (R. Blackwelder)[DVD Review--March 22, 2005--Warner, 110 min., PG-13, $39.95--Making its second appearance on DVD, Miss Congeniality: The Deluxe Edition contains two audio commentaries (one with actress Sandra Bullock and executive producer/screenwriter Marc Lawrence; the other with director Donald Petrie), two documentaries--“Preparing for the Pageant” and “The Pageant,” which both include interviews with the cast as well as outtakes (15 min.), a sneak peek at Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (9 min.), three deleted scenes (6 min.), a lame “Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Beauty Queen?” quiz hosted by William Shatner, a trailer, and the 12-track Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous soundtrack. Bottom line: only the deleted scenes, quiz, and CD are new to this edition, and frankly they just don't warrant the extra $25.]