FBI Agent Gracie Hart is a little rough around the edges and the least likely candidate to go undercover as a beauty pageant contestant to thwart a domestic terrorist. But thanks to the talents of Victor Melling, Gracie is groomed, painted, spackled and transformed into Gracie Lou Freebush from New Jersey and no one is the wiser. The culprit turns out to be Kathy Morningside, competition director and a former pageant winner who is to be put out to pasture, and her son Frank. After saving the day, Gracie is named Miss Congeniality by her running mates.
I had just about given up on Sandra Bullock. Her output since The Net (1995) was beginning to rival Jennifer Aniston's. But she reeled me back in with her comedic abilities in Miss Congeniality. I was happy to see it didn't bomb ;-) at the box office and that Sandra nabbed a Golden Globe nomination. Of course Hollywood couldn't leave well enough alone and an unnecessary sequel with a cringeworthy subtitle arrived in 2005. I saw a test screening several months prior so I'm not sure if my comments were addressed or not as I never ended up seeing the theatrical release. But Miss Congeniality has earned its place in the triple crown ;-) of the top Sandra Bullock movies.
Miss Congeniality was filmed in Austin and San Antonio, TX, Weehawken, NJ and New York, NY
Address: 409 Colorado Street, Austin, TX
Location: Gracie's Apartment
Address: 9 Shippen Street, Weehawken, NJ
Thanks to Robert Patterson at Set-jetter.com for finding this location...
Location: En Route to Starbucks
Address: 56 Little 12th Street, New York, NY
Location: Starbucks
Address: 600 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX
Gracie then ends up in the Lone Star State when she arrives at Starbucks, debunking the myth that there's one on every corner...
Location: Miss United States Beauty Pageant Headquarters
Address: near 2 E 55th Street, New York, NY
Of course there was scaffolding like most of my New York locations but you can still see the 550 Madison Avenue delivery entrance sign Gracie and Eric walk past...
You never actually see the entrance to the headquarters but they stop just short of the King Cole Bar of the St. Regis Hotel...
Which is where you see Gracie and Victor exit after a lesson in eating and yessing. The restaurant at the time of filming was Lespinasse...
The Devil Wears Prada (2006), The First Wives Club (1996) and Joe Jackson's Steppin' Out (1982) video were also filmed here.
Location: Gracie Practices Gliding
Address: 5th Avenue & 56th Street, New York, NY
If you plan to visit San Antonio, be sure to stroll the beautiful River Walk and take a boat cruise. Here is shot used the establishing montage.
One of the pageant scenes was also filmed here, which I'll get to in a bit.
Location: The Hotel
Address: 4140 Governors Row, Austin TX Omni Austin Hotel at South Park
I was rushed for time and totally forgot to get a shot of the hot tub area, but it is still around.
Location: The Theatre
Address: 2350 Robert Dedman Drive, Austin, TX Bass Concert Hall, University of Texas
Location: Beauty Pageant Talent Portion
Address: 300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX The Alamo
Watch out, Debby Boone...
Location: Beauty Pageant Swimsuit Competition
Address: 418 Villita Street, San Antonio, TX
As I mentioned earlier, the River Walk is seen once again during the swimsuit competition...
Locations Visited: December 2018, October 2019
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