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Gracie Hart (Sandra Bullock) continues her adventures as an FBI Agent in this sequel. But her
much publicized exploits as an undercover contestant in the Miss USA Beauty Pageant has made her a celebrity and has severely compromised her effectiveness as a field agent.
So, she is turned into the FBI's image model, promoting the FBI and her autobiographical book, and generally selling a positive image to the public. But her private life is
in shambles because of her boyfriend's breaking up with her. She tries to forget her sorrow by immersing herself in her work. Sam Fuller (Regina King), a black FBI
Agent with an anger management problem is assigned as a bodyguard to her. But from the start, the two cannot get along well. Their chance to work as a team presents
itself when Gracie's friend and reigning MissUSA, Cheryl Frazier (Heather Burns) is kidnapped for ransom. The two must cooperate and pull their act together to save Cheryl's
life. This they must do despite efforts by FBI Brass to ease them from their job.
For a comedy, this film lacks humor except for a brief sequence when Sandra and Regina do an
impersonation of Tina Turner and Coco. Everyone appears to be taking himself too seriously resulting in too heavy a touch in a very light material. Hence, the title is
a misnomer because congeniality means harmony and cordiality and not abhorrent, quarrelsome behavior as the lead characters portray.
To be congenial is difficult in today's world where looking out for No. 1 (I, Me and Myself) as
well as divorce, separation and sudden break-up of relationships seems to be the rule. Indeed, if every relationship is measured by "what's in it for me" or "what do I gain
from this relationship", love flies out the window. Even Gracie Hart (Graceful Heart?) has to examine her motivations on why she wants to help Cheryl – is it to further
her career or to save a friend's life? Only when she has purified her intentions does Gracie become congenial and peaceful. Even then, she has to contend with her own
kind, her immediate superior and fellow agents and her own need to strike back to keep her serenity in order to accomplish her job. That is a sad commentary in the world we
are living in today. We cannot hope for World Peace if the culture of looking out for our selfish interests continue to dominate us.
(Date Reviewed: 4 April 2005)
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