Miss Congeniality
When the local FBI office receives a letter from a terrorist known only as 'The Citizen', it's quickly determined that he's planning his next act at the Miss America beauty pageant. Because tough-as-nails Gracie Hart is the only female agent at the office, she's chosen to go undercover as the contestant from New Jersey.
What critics thought
Critics found Miss Congeniality largely formulaic and low-ambition, broadly panning its script as thin and unoriginal even while acknowledging Sandra Bullock's charm in the lead role. Audiences responded far more warmly than critics did — that gap between the two camps is probably the most telling thing about the film.
“a standard-issue fish-out-of-water comedy”
A. O. Scott·The New York Times
“It isn't bad so much as it lacks any ambition to be more than it so obviously is”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
Genres
Comedy, Crime, Action
Cast & Crew
Donald PetrieDirector
Sandra BullockGracie Hart
Michael CaineVictor Melling
Benjamin BrattEric Matthews
Candice BergenKathy Morningside
William ShatnerStan Fields
Ernie HudsonMcDonald
John DiRestaAgent Clonsky
Heather BurnsCheryl 'New York'
Melissa De SousaKaren 'Rhode Island'
Steve MonroeFrank Tobin
Deirdre QuinnMary Jo 'Texas'
Wendy Raquel RobinsonLeslie 'California'
Edward ShearmurComposer
Marc LawrenceWriter
László KovácsCinematographyMiss Congeniality
When the local FBI office receives a letter from a terrorist known only as 'The Citizen', it's quickly determined that he's planning his next act at the Miss America beauty pageant. Because tough-as-nails Gracie Hart is the only female agent at the office, she's chosen to go undercover as the contestant from New Jersey.
What critics thought
Critics found Miss Congeniality largely formulaic and low-ambition, broadly panning its script as thin and unoriginal even while acknowledging Sandra Bullock's charm in the lead role. Audiences responded far more warmly than critics did — that gap between the two camps is probably the most telling thing about the film.
“a standard-issue fish-out-of-water comedy”
A. O. Scott·The New York Times
“It isn't bad so much as it lacks any ambition to be more than it so obviously is”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
Genres
Comedy, Crime, Action
Cast & Crew
Donald PetrieDirectorSandra BullockGracie HartMichael CaineVictor MellingBenjamin BrattEric MatthewsCandice BergenKathy MorningsideWilliam ShatnerStan FieldsErnie HudsonMcDonaldJohn DiRestaAgent ClonskyHeather BurnsCheryl 'New York'Melissa De SousaKaren 'Rhode Island'Steve MonroeFrank TobinDeirdre QuinnMary Jo 'Texas'Wendy Raquel RobinsonLeslie 'California'Edward ShearmurComposerMarc LawrenceWriterLászló KovácsCinematography