Miss Congeniality 2 : Armed and Fabulous (2005) Film Review

After her successful mission in Miss Congeniality and the ensuing publicity , Gracie Hart (Sandra Bullock) is having a tough time working as an FBI agent as she is constantly recognized. On top of this, her relationship with her colleague ends unexpectedly and she is bereft. When the opportunity comes to become the face of the FBI in a publicity campaign, along with a book, an entourage and appearances on every television chat show across the land. Then, Miss America (Heather Burns) and Stan Fields, the host of the awards (William Shatner) are kidnapped and she ends up back in action with her new, angry FBI agent bodyguard Sam Fuller (Regina King).

This is exactly the sequel it needed to be. It had all of the humour of the first, and ridiculous costumes and slapstick and the lot. Plus add in Nick Offerman and Abraham Benrubi and you have a good, cheesy ridiculous film that many people would consider a waste of a few hours of your life, but that I just loved. To bits.

Miss Congeniality (2000) Film Review

Ah, 2000. Back to the days when there could be a hilarious comedy about a bomb at the most patriotic of events, the Miss United States pageant. And that when everything seemed mostly wrapped up, the FBI could move out, ignoring any continuing threat. I wonder how a film like this would work post 9/11?

Sandra Bullock is at her comic best playing Gracie Hart, an extremely unfeminine FBI agent with no manners and no grace at all. But when a mysterious terrorist called The Citizen seems to be targeting a beauty pageant, the FBI need an agent on the ground. With the assistance of pageant expert Victor Melling (Michael Caine), Gracie gains some Grace and the hearts not only of the nation, but also of fellow FBI agent Eric Matthews (Benjamin Bratt). Oops, may have been a bit of a spoiler, but it’s thirteen years old. Surely a spoiler at this stage is reasonable – unlike all of those people who live Facebook-statused Offspring two weeks ago and did a spoiler alert after only minutes. Booo.

Miss Congeniality is a great film. Funny, a top cast and a ridiculous plot. Yes, there is a bit of political incorrectness, and there are certainly flaws, but generally it is a very enjoyable experience. Plus Candice Bergen is in it. And William Shatner. Love it – two reviews in a row with William Shatner. Lovely.

Showtime (2002) Film Review

 

Trey Sellars (Eddie Murphy) wants to be a star. He is an actor who survives through his day job – he’s a cop because he was not coordinated enough to be a waiter. Chase Renzi (Rene Russo) is a television executive who is looking for a new reality show to wow the world. After Sellars botches the drug raid of Detective Mitch Preston (Robert Di Niro), Preston is strong armed into appearing on a police reality television show, Showtime. Preston and Sellars are the typical unlikely buddy cop pairing, attempting to solve the mystery of some new super-guns whilst constantly being followed by cameramen.

There is something about this film that looks as though it should be awful. However, it’s actually extremely funny. Robert Di Niro is doing comedy, but he is playing the grumpy straight man and this works beautifully. Eddie Murphy is, as pretty much always wonderful. The pairing works well, the plot is almost feasible and it’s a surprisingly good film. Definitely worth a trip to the DVD shop. Oh, and William Shatner’s in it.