'Miss Congeniality 2' is far from fabulous

By Jack Garner
Gannett News Service

MISS CONGENIALITY 2 (PG-13) Two Stars (Fair) A cookie-cutter sequel that finds FBI agent Sandra Bullock too well known after her high profile case (shown in the 2000 original) to do investigation work. Nonetheless, she gets involved in solving a kidnapping. Regina King is the best of the co-stars. John Pasquin directs in TV sitcom style. Warner Bros., 115 minutes.

Congenial, maybe, but hardly fabulous.

Once again Sandra Bullock stars as Gracie Hart, an FBI agent who became famous in the 2000 film for her undercover work at a beauty pageant (a sure-fire way to blow your cover). Nonetheless, as "MC2" opens, Hart is leading an undercover sting at a bank where a robbery is expected.

Obviously, Hart is recognized and the sting operation is botched. Like that couldn't have been predicted?

So the FBI moves Hart into a new public relations role as the public "face" of the bureau. She does talk shows, writes a book, handles news conferences, etc.

And she has an image team, including a beauty expert (who, of course, is flamboyantly effeminate.) Then, in one of those improbable coincidences that movies (and particularly sequels) are prone to, Hart's buddy from the beauty pageant — the current Miss USA (played by Heather Burns) is kidnapped along with the festival emcee (William Shatner).

Hart feels compelled to become involved beyond her PR duties. Along the way, "Miss Congeniality 2" professes a message of female empowerment. However, Hart gets at it in bumpy fits and starts, mooning over her lost boyfriend and too easily embracing her FBI Barbie doll makeover before strapping on her badge and gun for the Miss USA rescue. (And, even for that, she wears the most gosh-awful drag outfit you'll ever see.)

John Pasquin directs with a lack of shading and subtlety that reflects his years on such TV sitcoms as "The George Lopez Show" and "Roseanne." And the script by Marc Lawrence echoes the first film with only a few differences.

If there's a saving grace, it's the presence of Regina King as Sam Fuller, a tough-as-nails FBI agent with a ton of attitude on her shoulder.

Watching the relationship develop between Hart and Fuller from oil-and-water adversity to sisterly concern is one of the few treats in the film. King, who deserved an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Margie Hendricks in "Ray," dominates every scene she's in.

She's a formidable talent, even in a piece of uninspired fluff like "Miss Congeniality 2."

Rated PG-13, with profanity, comic violence.