Benjamin Bratt

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In the popular romantic comedy, "Miss Congeniality," Sandra Bullock plays Gracie Hart, an awkward and unrefined FBI field agent forced into an extreme makeover against her wishes. During her undercover assignment with the Miss United States Pageant, she discovers her hidden outer beauty (as does her co-worker played by Benjamin Bratt). The clever story, Henry Higgins-type makeover, budding romance, and amusing subplots among the contestants combine to make "Miss Congeniality" a great date movie. The sequel, "Miss Congeniality 2 - Armed and Fabulous" isn't a great date movie, however. In fact, the unfunny sequel (without Bratt or any other love interest) doesn't even qualify as a date movie at all.

It's a mystery why filmmakers would think that the sequel to a romantic comedy could succeed without the romance, and often without the comedy. Take "Legally Blonde 2," for instance. The original "Legally Blonde" introduced us to the delightful Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon), a young woman who finds herself by being lost in love. Unfortunately it's the humor and romance that are lost in this tepid sequel which focuses its attention on gay canines, conniving bosses, and courtroom shenanigans. Her fiancé from the first movie (Luke Wilson) is mainly absent in the sequel except through occasional phone calls. The laughs are absent this time, as well.

But "Miss Congeniality 2" and "Legally Blonde 2" aren't the only victims of the curse of the unromantic date movie sequel. Just because the original date movie has the right balance of action, adventure, intrigue, wit, and romance, doesn't necessarily mean that the sequel will capture the same magic or maintain the same romantic momentum.

Take the sequels to "Speed," "Fletch," and "Romancing the Stone." They're not likely to heat up anyone's evening. Then there are movie franchises such as "Rocky" and "Crocodile Dundee," which started off as great date movies and turned into unromantic formula films limping in and out of theaters over the years.

Although "Bridget Jones's Diary" contains humor, good characterization, and sexual tension, its sequel "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" offers little new in terms of plot and comedy, and nothing new in the romance department. The sparkling chemistry in the original "Bridget Jones's Diary" made us care about the bloated Brit, lovable scoundrel, and handsome prude. In the lackluster sequel, however, the love triangle continues with no one growing, changing, or learning. It's difficult to feel compassion (let alone lust) for any of these stagnant characters.

And while the hilarious "Meet the Fockers" is not cursed with an unfunny script, the romance of the original "Meet the Parents" was pushed aside to make way for the humor.

The worst date movie sequels are when the filmmakers produce a Part 2 that doesn't have the original stars from Part 1 (e.g., "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights" and "Son of the Mask"). Re-creating the same situations without the original stars guarantees a film without the original sexual chemistry. Hoping for romance? You're lucky if the movie is even watchable.

Occasionally, there's an exception to the curse of the unromantic date movie sequel. Try "Spider-Man 2," "The Legend of Zorro," and "Shrek 2" These three exceptions not-so-coincidentally all have common traits: They feature the original stars, use the same director, stay close to the original storyline, and need maintain only a moderate level of sexual tension to stay on par with their predecessors.

The secret to successful date movie sequels is the same secret to successful long-term dating. Exciting initial sexual chemistry fades into comfortable familiarity both on-screen and off-screen. Quirky little character flaws become much less endearing over the years when people fail to grow and mature. Like the real-life relationships they depict, date movie sequels lose their sexual sizzle unless time and attention are devoted to keeping the characters and situations fresh.

Copyright 2006 Leslie Halpern

Leslie Halpern is the author of "Reel Romance. The Lovers' Guide to the 100 Best Date Movies" (Taylor Trade Publishing), a book that reviews date movies for couples and suggests romantic ideas inspired by these films. A Central Florida-based entertainment writer, Leslie also wrote "Dreams on Film. The Cinematic Struggle Between Art and Science" (McFarland & Co.) and more than 1,600 articles in trade and consumer magazines. Visit her website at: http://home.roadrunner.com/~lesliehalpern

The Oldsmobile Lives

The Oldsmobile may have gone to retirement with the GMT360-derived Bravada introduced in 2002 being its last after General Motors phased out the brand in 2004, but the Oldsmobile still lives – at least in the boob tube and in the big screen.

Thanks to Wikipedia, we get to see how the Oldsmobile has become among the most favorite cars to make cameo appearances in television and in the movies, some of the most memorable of which were at:

• Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978) - the stretch Toronado Limo was used.

• Any Which Way You Can (1980) - When Clint Eastwood arrives in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for the big fight, his opponent and friend William Smith is driving a brand-new, red 1980 98 Regency sedan which is featured prominently in the end of the film.

• Lethal Weapon (1987) - Murtaugh drives a 1986 Oldsmobile Delta 88. 1985 Oldsmobile 98 Regency is seen as the villain's vehicle. Another Oldsmobile appearance was made in the sequel of the film in 1989, where Murtaugh is driving his wife's brand new Custom Cruiser station wagon, which is slowly and methodically destroyed throughout the movie.

• Turner and Hooch (1989) - this comedy stars Tom Hanks as a police officer who is in charge of a dog that destroys the interior of Hank's character's 1989 Oldsmobile 88 Royale Brougham.

• The Hunt for Red October (1990) - Alec Baldwin can be seen getting out of a dark-colored early 1980s 98 Regency just before he enters the White House briefing.

• Demolition Man (1993) - Set mostly in the year 2032, a bright red 1970 Olds 442 is discovered by police officers John Spartan (played by Sylvester Stallone), Lenina Huxley (played by Sandra Bullock) and Alfredo Garcia (played by Benjamin Bratt) in the slums beneath San Angeles. Using an old elevator, the car bursts up through the floor of a modern-day Oldsmobile dealer, and Stallone's character drives it out of the showroom onto the street, beginning an extensive car chase scene. Many other GM cars and concept vehicles were used in the film including the GM Ultralite, which was featured prominently. Ironically, since Oldsmobile folded in 2004, the Oldsmobile dealer set in the year 2032 is now an anachronism. The dealer was also still using the early-90s version of the Oldsmobile logo, which was replaced only 3 years after the release of the film.

• Get Shorty (1995) - John Travolta's character is incredulous at being given an Oldsmobile Silhouette minivan for a rental instead of his requested Cadillac, to which the rental clerk responds, "You got the Cadillac of minivans," a line oft-repeated outside of the movie.

• Fargo (1996) - late 1980s Oldsmobile cars including the Cutlass Ciera and Ninety-Eight Touring Sedan were featured, as William H. Macy's character was general manager of his father-in-law's Oldsmobile dealership.

• The X-Files (1998) - an Oldsmobile Intrigue was heavily used by the characters as part of a promotional tie-in between General Motors and the movie's producers. Earlier on in the series, Oldsmobile Cutlass Cieras were featured.

• The Matrix Reloaded (2003) - many Oldsmobiles are used as cameo vehicles, especially during the famous highway chase scene. Even though the characters never drive an Oldsmobile in the film, there was interaction between Oldsmobiles in the scene. There is one part when Agent Johnson jumps on top of the front of an Aurora, completely destroying the front end and causing the car to do a front flip and land on its roof. Another scene involves the Twins gunning down an Intrigue and shoving it into the divider wall, causing it to do a barrel roll and land on its roof.

And just last year, the Oldsmobile once again graced the screen in the hit movie Cars (2006) where Piston Cup Championship Sportscaster Bob Cutlass, voiced by Bob Costas, is a 1999 Aurora.

The Oldsmobile is best remembered as one of America's longest producing brand of automobile, made famous by its legendary Rocket V8 engine and popular selling cars, including the Cutlass Surpreme, Ciera, 98, 88 and Toronado.

The Oldsmobile can also be best remembered for producing some of “the firsts†in automotive industry, including the first speedometer, chrome-plated radiator and other Oldsmobile parts, automatic choke, as well as the first fully automatic transmission and first mass-produced, high-compression OHV V8 – and the list goes on.

About the Author

Correy Putton is a 28-year old bachelor from Pittsburgh, PA who has been around cars for the better part of his life. He now works online and writes all about his passion: car. He is also a certified mechanic.

Benjamin Bratt is what nationality?

What is his ethnicity? What is his cultural background?

he is from USA, but son of a Peruvian Quechua Indian mother from Lima, who moved to the United States . His father and grand father from USA also

Oscar Theory #5: Win best actress, get divorced
Over the past nine years, a slightly disturbing trend has emerged for whoever ascends the stage, teary-eyed, to collect the Best Actress statue.

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