Miss Congeniality

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Rating 1


Directed by Donald Petrie

Written by Marc Lawrence, Katie Ford and Caryn Lucas

Starring Sandra Bullock, Michael Caine, Benjamin Bratt, William Shatner, Candice Bergen and Ernie Hudson


I like Sandra Bullock a lot. I think she is an excellent actress, a great film star with genuine screen charisma, and I am very fond of several of her films. However, despite it being one of her biggest hits, I had never seen ‘Miss Congeniality’ – or its sequel, for that matter.

It was shown on television this weekend and although I felt no overwhelming interest in watching it I decided to give it a go. I managed to sit through the first hour, on and off, before I gave up in despair. I near enough hated it. I can’t think of anything good to say about it. I didn’t find it funny. I didn’t like any of the characters. No aspect of the story interested me. Not even the presence of William Shatner, who is usually good value in his own inimitable way, was enough to rescue it. Michael Caine was horribly miscast. Benjamin Bratt's character had no likeable characteristics that I could discern. Even Sandra Bullock herself didn’t help.

This isn’t the first Sandra Bullock film that I haven’t liked, but it is the first one I have actively disliked – and that includes ‘Speed 2’.



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