MISS CONGENIALITY

CAPSULE REVIEW –– I'm so glad I didn't pay to see this movie. It seemed to be a story that Sandra Bullock could make work. Unfortunately, even her innate charm couldn't overcome the horror of the script. Granted it's not as unwatchable as 28 DAYS, but that doesn't mean you should run to the video store. Bullock has built her career on the charm of lovable losers who find a way to win; however, she steps over the ugly line here. She's just so abrasive and charmless that it's hard to root for her success. Certainly, she needed to be a diamond in the rough for the transformation from hard-edged FBI agent to beauty queen to be funny and stunning. Unfortunately, the film goes to far to believably bounce back. It's fairly obvious who's behind the threat to the pageant from the very beginning, so there's no real mystery there. Plus, seeing Bullock rebel against becoming a lady isn't at all amusing. Whoever thought pulling donuts out of one's brassiere was clever needs a sense of humor overhaul. There are some cute moments between Bullock and Bratt, but their relationship is mostly left unexplored, which is probably a good thing. The last thing this film needs is another subplot. If you're a fan of Sandy's you'll probably find enough comedy in this flick to make it worth your time. All others beware.