As many actresses who are labeled a regular gal pal, a high percentage of Bullock's filmography are comedies. Ultimately a few chick flicks here and there has landed her in the funny lady category. But she has never been merely the girl who gets the guy.
In films like While You Were Sleeping, or Two Weeks Notice, even The Proposal (which is not a top favorite of mine), she's always the girl who has much more going on in her life than getting the guy.
Her characters are never melodramatic, helpless, or an over-the-top fashionista who has money, friends and success; everything except a man. With Bullock, she plays those rare characters who is never above putting a guy in his place joke by joke, misses an opportunity to beat around the bush, or actually practically normal. A romance doesn't necessarily solve all her problems but it does make life less lonesome.
She wasn't a "woman in a man's world" in the typical blockbuster way trying to fit in with the big boys in government. She was Cinderella of epic tomboyish proportions trying to blend in the ultra feminine world of beauty pageants. It really might not seem like a big deal, but until that movie, I had never really seen a character or woman on screen who was yes - beautiful - but funny, charming, walked like a dinosaur from Jurassic Park, or was as brash as her co-workers. An utter tomboy myself as a teen, I was Gracie Hart.
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In what felt like a twenty-state radius, I was the only girl who watched wrestling religiously and even dreamed of owning a rat as a house pet. My backyard was the home of all the boys to come and play sports with me until reluctantly our parents called us home at dusk. Little boys were not the subject of my childhood rage, nor did I become an FBI agent turned Miss New Jersey, but Gracie Hart was my kind of sarcasm, clumsy, and trying to make sense of a hair brush, shaving, and anything that wasn't a t-shirt with shorts.
Growing up, much like Hart changes throughout the movie, she was the ugly duckling who became a swan...but she didn't lose that snorting laughter, her instincts, or her candid personality. Nearly ten years later, I feel like I've come as full circle as she did. I still play sports and want a hamster named Elvis, but I can make sense of make-up and a brush.
The genius of Gracie Hart really goes to Sandra Bullock, who made the beer swilling agent a natural comedic presence on screen you could love and relate to.
The genius of Gracie Hart really goes to Sandra Bullock, who made the beer swilling agent a natural comedic presence on screen you could love and relate to.
That year even I had my reservations about her performance snagging statuettes left and right. Looking back at the film, without Bullock, it was a perfect premiere film for Lifetime. I think everyone knew that at the time. But what so many failed to recognized including myself was that with the native Virginian, Bullocks' role was one that could've been very easily caricaturized by another actress.
The brunette gone blond megastar realistically portrayed a mother who was offering a place in her family and home for a child who needed it. And she succeeded doing it with a natural grace and endearment. In every scene where Bullock turns up to verbally shut down a close-minded hick, she is there clamming them up. But she isn't over the top nor melodramatic. The then 49 year old actress revered for her prat falls and laidback personality in an instant grew up yet still remained vivacious and charming.
Evidence of her Oscar speech where she didn't shy away from her humor for one of the most glamorous nights in Hollywood. She was funny, personable and down to earth. Though not a self-described optimist, her insatiable energy is electric and playful. There's something about her calm yet lively disposition that makes me feel like she is always moving forward, taking chances, and doing it with a beer in her hand and smile on her face. Who doesn't love a woman like that?