|
There's
no escaping the fact that Sandra Bullock is an attractive
actress. And films like Speed and While You Were
Sleeping are pretty good.
But since
the mid-90's her career has gone no where. As co-producer
of Miss Congeniality she obviously believed strongly
in the project. Big mistake.
The film
is a modern take on Pygmalion. It isn't worthy to be mentioned
in the same breath. Even Martine McCutcheon, currently in
the West End revival of the story, will have a longer run
than this disaster.
 |
| Miss
Congeniality? Was I really in that? |
The premise
is that a dangerous criminal has threatened carnage at the
Miss United States Pageant.
The FBI
decide to send in an undercover agent in the form of Gracie
Hart (Bullock). When the movie starts she's no glamourpuss.
She's a frump with few social graces.
Beauty
consultant Victor Melling (Michael Caine) is called in to
work miracles. Surprise, surprise, agent Hart is transformed
into a beauty contestant who can proudly show off her curves
in swimsuit and evening wear.
 |
| Scotty,
get me out of this movie |
The hunt
for the villain ensues and it's giving nothing away to say
the FBI wins the day and Hart's preconceptions about beauty
pageant contestants being nothing but dumb blondes is radically
altered.
Apart
from it being a pretty flimsy storyline, Miss Congeniality's
big problem is it can't decide whether to be a comedy or a
thriller.
The opening
sequence of a raid gone wrong offers hope. It's quite tense
but suddenly tries to lighten up. For the next hour and a
half the boundaries remain blurred, although in truth, the
laugh quota is minimal.
The film
has one saving grace and it's not Sandra Bullock's good looks.
Michael
Caine's on screen presence lifts the film temporarily, even
though it's a typical Caine performance (i.e. nothing out
of the ordinary, unlike appearances in Little Voice
and the original Get Carter).
Seeing
him appear against the appalling William Shatner is embarrassing.
People
continue to object to the Miss World contest. Far more should
object to this celluloid rubbish.
|
