Again and again and again and - why not - again !

Rating: 4/10 (5 June 2012)

OK, it's a conventional Hollywood romantic comedy. Namely: something has been done endless times before, and will be done endless times after. Although the skeleton is one, the flesh and blood are many and different, or - for the sake of satisfied viewers - supposed to be. Let's see how this movie was doing in terms of that matter.
The couple is working in the publishing business. She is the tough boss of he. He is loaded with money, but just doesn't say. The family of he lives in Alaska. Then, some sprinkles, like: an eagle kidnapping a puppy, a baby maker blanket, Sandra Bullock's rap, and yes.. a male stripper!
On the other hand, there are tons of the genre's worn-out antiques: the from haters to lovers, from fake love to actual love, and the opposites attract themes and sketches. The character that blows up the scheme of the fake lovers, hence a problem with the newly born "actual" love. A confession in front of the whole jury, hence a bigger problem that - naturally - leads to some kind of conciliation. Then the "running", which always distinguishes these movies, where he or she runs for the other, to catch her or him in the nick of time. Well, you know the drill, you experienced the routine, AND THIS MOVIE TOO!
Despite the general mildness, the few "new" touches were few and touches. Some of them bothered my stomach, and I do mean the male stripper scene, then knowing that he is the town's minister as well (How innovating? No, How repulsive!). Moreover, the many "old" clichés were many and old. At the moment of "Whoops, we ran into each other so accidentally while being both undressed" I was real sick. I saw that so-called coincidence at least 100 times before in Hollywood romantic comedies, produced in the last 10 years only!
All the storylines that concern Ryan Reynolds's character, ex-fiancée, father, wasn't utilized, or even made, well. Watching material like swallowing an appetizer suddenly, a fabricated ring story.. etc. proved to be repeated and unfunny. In fact, the comedy was ranging between not being made creatively, or not being made! The movie was deadly predictable; for instance, I saw the whole third act, scene by scene, coming from a million miles away. And if it was predictable from the start, then the script didn't make it "that enjoyable" along the way too. Here's a movie that thinks that it makes new stuff and big laughs merely by seeing a Hispanic male stripper that works as a minister!
There is a 13 years gab between Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. That wasn't for the sake of her by any chance. She - for the very first time in her career - looked old in front of her rom-com's co-star. Reynolds is talented, but seemed a bit stiff for most of the time.
The most lovely and energetic old actress today, Betty White, is the movie's main dish. She stole the show, albeit it wasn't originally that hard to be stolen. There was a chuckle here, and other there, all in the first third, which heavily disappoints for the rest of the movie. Hmmm, what else could be good?! Yeah, Sandra Bullock, despite doing almost the same again and again. Her "favorite things" thawing monologue was perfectly written and acted. I myself like Brian Dennehy as well!
Along the way, (The Proposal) pushed me to remind numerous other movies: (Green Card - 1990), (The Devil Wears Prada - 2006), (Something's Gotta Give - 2003), (When Harry Met Sally - 1989), even violent action like (Wanted - 2008) with suppressed employee who bursts in his female boss's face, and (When You Were Sleeping - 1995) starring Bullock herself. Maybe before writing this, Peter Chiarelli (mainly a producer who turned here into first time screenwriter) watched many romantic comedies to make somehow a mix out of them. But the outcome turned out to be something easy to write, easy to watch, and easy to forget. WAW, that has become a sign of Hollywood's movies lately!
I read that tissues are recycled from old papers. (The Proposal) is a tissue, smooth and light. But still a used-for-once tissue. And its original "papers" are better and more original. I don't mind doing the same stories again and again and again. The thing is.. again isn't always a gain!
4 out of 10. Sorry, but the "Whoops, we ran into each other so accidentally while being both undressed" moment was too unbearable. It's more predictable and boring than seeing Friday the 13th getting killed in the end of every Friday the 13th movie!