Sandra Bullock’s ‘Miss Congeniality’ Becomes Surprise Streaming Hit

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Prior to her success as a romantic comedy staple with films like “The Proposal” and “The Lake House,” Sandra Bullock had already made a name for herself as an action star throughout the ’90s and 2000s, featuring in movies such as “Demolition Man” and the “Speed” series. However, one of Bullock’s less recognized, yet critically undervalued action films was released six years after “Speed.” This film is none other than the action-comedy, …”Miss Congeniality,” in which Bullock played a key role. For those who haven’t seen this movie or would like to revisit it, “Miss Congeniality” is currently popular on streaming platforms.

The comedy movie “Miss Congeniality” has made its way onto Netflix and quickly climbed up their list of most-watched films this week, currently holding the 4th spot. At the moment, it trails behind Amy Schumer’s latest release, “Kinda Pregnant,” in first place, with “The Menu” and “Back in Action” following closely in second and third positions. Originally released in 2000, “Miss Congeniality” was helmed by director Donald Petrie and offered a fresh take on the popular storyline of “Hottie and the Nottie,” which has fortunately become a thing of the past.

Sandra Bullock plays Gracie Hart, an atypical female detective who is tasked with going undercover at the Miss United States beauty pageant. To accomplish this, she must give up her tomboyish persona and transform herself (as per 2000s societal expectations) into a “real woman.” Alongside Bullock, the movie ‘Miss Congeniality’ featured Michael Caine, Benjamin Bratt, Heather Burns, Candice Bergen, Ernie Hudson, and Steve Monroe. The film’s summary states:

“Gracie Hart, an unconventional female detective, is assigned to infiltrate the Miss United States beauty pageant.” To do so, “she must shed her tomboyish demeanor and conform (to 2000s societal norms) to a more feminine image.” Alongside Bullock, ‘Miss Congeniality’ also starred Michael Caine, Benjamin Bratt, Heather Burns, Candice Bergen, Ernie Hudson, and Steve Monroe.

Detective Gracie Hart, known for her tomboyish ways, is tasked with blending into the Miss United States beauty pageant as a competitor. This move comes about following intelligence that the competition is being targeted by an unidentified bomber.

‘Miss Congeniality’ Was a Critical Flop

Although the first release of Miss Congeniality (in 2000) managed to gather enough supporters for Warner Bros. to produce a sequel (Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous in 2005), the original film received harsh criticism from numerous critics. The movie currently has a 41% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on reviews from both its initial release and more recent assessments of the film.

Initially, the film’s portrayal of feminism and misogyny sparked disagreement among some viewers. Features such as Gracie’s portrayal as a tomboy and the stereotypical depiction of female models were points of contention for both critics and audiences alike. In his 2000 review, renowned film critic Roger Ebert labeled Miss Congeniality as an average comedy, neither exceptionally poor nor exceptional. He described it as harmless, lighthearted entertainment that falls short in its aspiration to be anything more than what it so clearly is.

Despite unfavorable reviews from critics, the general public enjoyed the film Miss Congeniality, with an audience rating of 69%. However, both fans and critics were less enthusiastic about its sequel, Miss Congeniality 2, which received a much lower critics’ score of 16%, while audiences gave it a slightly better rating of 43%. Sandra Bullock herself has acknowledged that the sequel was a mistake and has ruled out any plans for a trilogy. The actress stated, “Absolutely not, no. No. [Miss Congeniality] 2 should not have been made… It should have remained a one-off.

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2025-02-10 17:02