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Miss Congeniality
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 20 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 55 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Comedy
Written by:
Marc Lawrence (also story)
Katie Ford (story)
Caryn Lucas (story)
Directed by: Donald Petrie
Release Date:
Theatrical: December 22, 2000
DVD: May 1, 2001
Running Time: 105 minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: PG-13 for sexual references and a scene of violence
Starring Sandra Bullock, Benjamin Bratt, Michael Caine, William Shatner, and Candice Bergen
When an infamous terrorist threatens to bomb the revered Miss United States pageant, the FBI finds an agent (Bullock) to infliltrate the contest -- as a contestant.
Also On Metacritic
FILM: Grumpy Old Men How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days Just My Luck Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous Mystic Pizza The Favor Welcome to Mooseport
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database View The Trailer Official Studio Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
San Francisco Chronicle Bob Graham
A mannerless, styleless brute, Bullock's Grace Hart is Eliza Doolittle in sweats.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas
A mainstream Hollywood escapist fantasy that in the end melts satire into sentimentality, but it is funny and knowing, detached enough to take a bemused stance toward its calculated tone.
Read Full Review >Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov
A remarkably solid, streamlined, action-comedy in the ugly-duckling-to-gorgeous-swan genre that elicits more laughs and genuinely affecting moments than you might expect from its tepid ad campaign.
Read Full Review >Boston Globe Jay Carr
She (Bullock) has a way of landing on her feet and remaining simpatico no matter how cheesy the script is. That's what happens here.
Read Full Review >New York Daily News Jami Bernard
Miss Congeniality would not be out of place as a TV series, so it makes sense that Candice Bergen and William Shatner appear as pageant co-hosts.
Read Full Review >Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey
The makeover from ugly duckling to swan essentially replaces narrative catharsis.
Read Full Review >Film.com Robert Horton
It all coalesces in a TV-level pleasantness, which isn't quite enough to fill a big screen.
Read Full Review >Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
It isn't bad so much as it lacks any ambition to be more than it so obviously is.
Read Full Review >New York Post Jonathan Foreman
Has some entertaining moments, thanks mainly to Bullock herself, who is surprisingly glamorous as well as endearing.
Read Full Review >Mr. Showbiz Kevin Maynard
A barrage of dangling plot strands, inconsistent characterizations, and suspense-free shootouts.
Read Full Review >TV Guide Steve Simels
William Shatner's comic timing helps him nearly steal the picture.
Read Full Review >USA Today Andy Seiler
It is a measure of the movie's lack of inspiration that William Shatner is the funniest thing in it.
Read Full Review >Miami Herald Sara Wildberger
The players are game. Too bad they don't have much of a coach or a plan.
Read Full Review >Portland Oregonian Kim Morgan
Bullock maintains a luster and comic naturalness that most actresses couldn't pull off in such mediocrity.
Read Full Review >Variety Robert Koehler
Stumbling its way down the comedy runway, Miss Congeniality is yet another miscalculated vehicle for the ever-feisty Sandra Bullock.
Read Full Review >The New York Times Dana Stevens
Supporting performances add comic spark to a movie that otherwise seems happily, deliberately second-rate.
Read Full Review >Chicago Reader Lisa Alspector
The kind of ugly-duckling role that's long been ironic for her (Bullock).
Read Full Review >Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan
The jokes are lame, the set-up is stupid and Bullock, occasionally a winsome comedienne and here a co-producer, is annoying as heck.
Read Full Review >Rolling Stone Peter Travers
I'd rather be buried in a mound of Floridian chad than watch director Donald Petrie force Bullock to jump through another desperately unfunny comic hoop.
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 55 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
[anonymous] gave it a6:
Although the setup is interesting, clunky scripting reduces it to run-of-the-mill but passable entertainment. Still, Bullock's transformation and the eye-candy fo the beauty pagent can be impressive, even if the movie fails to impress as a whole.
Eliza B. gave it a10:
This movie freakin rocks.
chelsea m. gave it a10:
I love this movie and i am doing a monologue from it for an audition!
Jessica gave it a10:
I think it's a wonderful movie. It sure had me laughing, and is definitely one of my favorite comedies.
Andrew M gave it a 4:
I have no desire to ever watch a Sandra Bullock movie again...I have seen four and she sucked in each one. Speed, far and away the best of these, is the only one that survived her fragmenting presence. If Miss Congeniality had been made with a lead who had charisma, personality, talent and intelligence, it may have been a pretty good film....but alas it wasn't.
Pat C. gave it a 6:
Sometimes a movie works better only after the elements indicative of intelligence and realism have been extracted and disposed of. Case in point: This movie. The dumber one regards this show, the more one must admit Bullock was perfectly cast. And Caine throws in a few choice moments. A nice film for the chicks. As for you guys that just like to watch Bullock do stuff, this is as memorable as she gets.
Katie M. gave it a 10:
I cannot believe there are so many negative views on this movie! Critics-have you not watched it? Sandra Bullock is great and this is probably her funniest movie to date! Definately worth the popcorn!!
