The Proposal Proves to be an Engaging Summer Treat

Rating: 8/10 (9 June 2009)

In a long line of boy hates girl, boy's forced into spending time with girl, boy falls head over heals for girl schlock films, comes "The Proposal". I don't pretend to make any excuses for why exactly I made the decision to see it. I knew exactly what I was getting myself into by RSVPing to an advanced screening, especially after being spoon fed the trailer before one out of every three movies that I've come to attend in the past month. I even went as far as to make an explicit promise to my guest and self that there would be zero badmouthing in between scenes. As much as I would hate watching the excruciatingly sappy, formulaic storyline unfold, I would keep my lips sealed and my opinions to a minimum. This time, I would give a movie of its kind a fighting chance.
Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock, Premonition) is nicknamed "Satans Mistress" by her co- workers. She is the epitome of shallow, cutthroat, bitchy book editors. Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds, Mr. Brooks) is her hard working, slave of an assistant whose personal life is second only to his bosses grueling work ethic and demanding hours. When Margaret is unexpectedly faced with the reality that she is to be deported back to Canada due to a mix up with her Visa, she decides to fake an engagement to Andrew despite his awkward and intrepid hesitation.
In fear of their ploy being discovered by immigration services, they elope to Andrews' hometown in Alaska to "meet the family". Mom (Mary Steenburgen, Clifford) and Dad (Craig T. Nelson, Coach) as well as Grandma Annie (Betty White, The Golden Girls) are more than surprised by their son's sudden plans of marriage, but they more or less accept it and from there it is up to Margaret and Andrew to keep from killing each other until the weekend comes to an end.
From the get go, Bullock and Reynolds' chemistry is something to be marveled at and is sustained right on through to the end of the film. This is due mostly in part to their impeccable handling of a tricky character arc. One minute they're at each other's throats, the next they are slowly and subtly falling in love. No easy task, but juggled perfectly. In a scene which takes place in the bedroom, Andrew on the floor, Margaret in the bed, she proceeds to reveal some of her inner most secrets, and it is then that we realize, she is human, she has feelings like everyone else and there is a clear cut reason for why she has become what she has become. Therein lies an emotional, heartfelt and extremely touching moment. In recent memory, I cannot recall the last time Bullock has brought such exposition and beauty to a role, so much to the point of reinvention. Reynolds, once again, shows that he has a gift for impeccable comic timing and plays off his leading ladies quirks and nuances perfectly.
It is clear from scene to scene that director Anne Fletcher (27 Dresses), a former choreographer, uses her past experiences to bring the characters of Margaret and Andrew to life, while at the same time giving them both a chance to breath by utilizing very simple shot selections and minimal technical glitz. The end result is similar to a dance in which each character plays off one another in moments that border impromptu and stark realism, yielding a variety of very funny, laugh out loud scenes.
Alas, "The Proposal" does have it's occasional blunders, one of which takes place between Grandma Annie and Margaret in which they dance around a bonfire in the woods singing their rendition of Lil Jon's "Get Low". Needless to say, it felt misplaced and brutally over the top. The same goes for one, which appears earlier on, involving an overweight male stripper. I could practically hear studio execs forcing it into the script for a few last minute laughs, but it falls flat and feels oddly manipulated.
For what it's worth, "The Proposal" defied my expectations and emerged as a pleasant surprise heading into summer blockbuster season. It is a small, unpretentious movie with a whole lot of heart and doesn't thrive to put a demand on your think tank. If there's one thing one might come away with from such a film, it is that the one person of the opposite sex that you loath the most, may just be the one you end up spending the rest of your life loving to hate.
In theaters June 19th, 2009.