Wolff rating: GOOD
Plot summary: Tomboyish FBI agent is assigned to enter a beauty pagent.
Biased, pithy comments: This is one of those light pieces of fluff that are so derivative, so obvious, that it depends solely on timing, delivery, and starpower. Bullock, despite being in a string of clunkers like ``The Net'' and ``Speed 2'', has abundant charm and a natural talent for acting like both a beauty queen and loser. You can't quite believe someone with Bullock's curves hasn't been propositioned a few dozen times by her co-workers before, but it's necessary for the illusion of the story and you accept it. With quality comedians sticking out every which way (Bergen and Caine being the best), everyone is having fun making the film work. Alas, it's a pretty dumb film that quickly extends past believeable and the product placements are so frequent early on that you can feel your wallet try to jump away in pain, but...I had fun, damn it. You might, too.
Other Notes: Shatner is great. I just said that. I must be ill, but...he's really good.
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Michael Caine, Benjamin Bratt, William Shatner, Candice Bergen, Ernie Hudson, John DiResta, Heather Burns.
Directed by: Donald Petrie