The Proposal

Rating: 7/10 (27 July 2009)

OK so, the rule is as followed. As a dude I'm entitled to enjoy one romantic comedy a year, any more than that and I may as well have grown a vagina. The trailer for "Bride Wars" made me distinctively uncomfortable. I couldn't make it through the first 30 minutes of "Confessions of a shopaholic" so it comes as no surprise that this proposal didn't interest me. Why did I go? To state a few reasons, its starring Ryan Reynolds, aka the greatest guy that ever lived. He was the one spot of blue in the big sea of red that was "Wolverine" and his presence alone made me excited to see the proposal. The verdict? This is one of the better romantic comedies you'll be likely to see this year, granted its made especially for women, this won't send men into a nauseating coma but It may just make that special someone go week at the knees. If the movie doesn't do it, Reynolds is sure to.
Sandra Bullock stars in the romantic comedy The Proposal, as a Canadian immigrant who creates a demanding and difficult work environment for her subordinates at the office. When the news arrives that she's about to be deported to the Great White North, she rushes into a marriage of convenience with her young assistant (played by Ryan Reynolds) to prevent such a catastrophe from occurring. 27 Dresses' Anne Fletcher directs from a script by Peter Chiarelli for Touchstone Pictures. The story isn't anything groundbreaking. To put it simply its tediously formulaic and, as is the trend for romantic comedies, "The Proposal" doesn't aim for new heights. Instead of going for gold it plays it safe making for a satisfying if unoriginal coupling. The story hits every point you expect, it has the rise, the fall, the rise then once again, the fall and, not to ruin the ending but typically our heroes rise once more. It's been here seen that all before material but it does a decent job of getting from point A to point B.
What works for the film particularly well is casting director Amanda Mackey Johnson knew what she was doing. The film is wonderfully cast with each actor giving it everything they could. We've come to expect exceptional performances from screen veterans like Reynolds, Bullock and Steenburgen but the real pleasure comes from Golden Girl Betty White was makes for a hysterical treat as she goes from the bizarre to the downright dangerous. Bullock is better here than she's been in some time. That's not to say she is going to be nominated for any awards but she gets the job done with grace and dexterity, and for a woman of her age to have the guts to do a nude scene, you have got to give her props. What's odd is my distain for this director (Anne Fletcher) previous two movies. Step Up and 27 Dresses were two films I couldn't get through, possibly because I'm the wrong crowd but here she brings her A game and directors each moment with grace and a certain style that I haven't seen in a Romantic comedy in quite some time.
Whoever decided to cast Sandra and Ryan in this together is a genius. Their chemistry is so natural and they look so good together that it is one of the main reasons that this film works. You won't laugh out loud too often. And in fact some of the scenes are plain embarrassing (especially those involving Oscar Nunez's waiter/exotic dancer/minister character) but it is all rather engaging fun. Plus there is a very funny nude scene that Bullock and Reynolds have to share that goes to show that both are in good nick physically (remember she has 12 years on her younger co-star)and are game for a laugh.
Verdict: The Proposal is not a marriage made in heaven by any means, but the eventual charm of the leads and a gag-packed second half manage to salvage the movie from inauspicious beginnings. Ultimately, there is something refreshing about The Proposal's undemanding humour and unabashed feel-good factor. A pedigree cast, fun premise and punchy dialogue make Bullock's return to romantic comedy look a great catch, and Reynolds is sharper than a diamond solitaire. For my overall rating I give the proposal 3/5.