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A glitzy makeover isn't enough to hide the flaws in Miss Congeniality 2. Sandra Bullock returns as special agent Gracie Hart living with fame after saving the Miss United States Pageant from sabotage. No longer able to work undercover, she accepts a gig as "the face of the FBI" but of course it's not long before she's flashing her gun. Bullock struts her stuff well, but this comedy lacks freshness and sags in all the wrong places.

A half-hearted crime intrigue involves the kidnap of Gracie's pal and beauty queen Cheryl (Heather Burns) along with pageant boss Stan (William Shatner). While doing press in Las Vegas, Gracie surreptitiously works the case but is impeded by her ferocious little bodyguard Sam (Regina King). Predictably a grudging friendship develops, but their relationship never comes close to matching the chemistry of Bullock and Michael Caine in the first film. Mercifully though, screenwriter Marc Lawrence dispenses with any tacked-on romance.

"JUST ANOTHER MEDIOCRE SANDRA BULLOCK MOVIE"

Bullock elicits a few chuckles, although the biggest laugh comes when she slings a couple of fake boobs around her waist. As usual her gift for goofiness is the crutch for a rickety plot and what we're left with is just another mediocre Sandra Bullock movie. King is also done a disservice having to play a character struggling with "anger management issues" and no credible reason as to why. A scene where the girls share details of their unhappy childhoods feels as false as Bullock's bra filler. It's supposed to be a buddy flick, but even a pair of handcuffs couldn't create a convincing bond between these two.