The Proposal

Ealasaid/ June 22, 2009/ Movie Reviews and Features

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson, Betty White
Directed by: Anne Fletcher
Rated: PG-13 for sexual content, nudity and language.
Parental Notes: This is a pretty standard PG-13 romantic comedy. The nudity is comedic and the sexual content is minimal.

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There’s very little new in “The Proposal” — it’s a standard romantic comedy, and thoroughly delighted to be one. It’s a charming film with charming characters, and it makes it easy to forget that the story is not a new one and that its underlying premise (that its career-driven female protagonist needs to lighten up and find a man to take charge in order to be happy) is old and tired. If you don’t mind that, it’s a charming film. If you do mind it, well, you may laugh at the jokes and enjoy the characters, but the final act will leave a bad taste in your mouth.
Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) is a high-powered editor at a New York book publishing firm. She’s good at what she does, but her underlings are terrified of her and call her “Satan’s Mistress” (among other things). Her beleaguered assistant Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) slaves away dutifully, hating her all the while, in hopes of earning a promotion to become an editor himself. When Margaret’s bosses inform her that her visa application has been denied and she’s going to be deported to her native Canada, she tells them that she and Andrew are getting married. This is news to Andrew, but he agrees to go along with the plan provided that he gets a few things in return, starting with that promotion he wants. Soon the two are off to Alaska for his grandmother’s 90th birthday celebration to announce their engagement and practice for their upcoming immigration interview.
Of course, Andrew has a loud, welcoming family who adore Margaret and make her feel right at home — which makes her feel guilty for deceiving them about her and Andrew’s sham wedding. And as she learns more about the assistant she’s always mocked and ignored, she (of course) finds herself warming up to him. And well, love and hate are two sides of the same coin, so it’s no surprise when Andrew finds himself falling for her.
Bullock is perfect for the role. She’s gotten a bit frighteningly skinny, but it fits the part (we first see Margaret on an exercise bike), and she’s top-notch at the sort of fish-out-of-water comedy the Alaska part of the film calls for. Reynolds does a solid job as well, though one has to wonder where Andrew finds time to built those big gym muscles, given that he is at his overbearing boss’s beck and call twenty-four hours a day. They do have good chemistry together, especially during the New York sections and when Andrew is driving a hard bargain and forcing Margaret to live up to her end of the deal. The supporting characters are fairly stock, but still a hoot, especially Betty White as Andrew’s grandmother.
“The Proposal” isn’t breaking new ground, nor does it seem to be trying to do so. It’s sweet and charming and totally unashamed in its neat boxing of men and women into their standard romantic comedy roles. The humor gets pretty broad at times, but in a straightforward, modern romantic comedy that’s not much of a surprise. If you’re looking for another serving of romantic cheese from Hollywood, “The Proposal” will hit the spot. If you’re looking for a realistic, egalitarian take on romance, keep looking.