A mixed Proposal of cinematic engagement and disengagement

Rating: 7/10 (21 June 2009)

Oh, my love. You are the most beautiful and caring woman in this universe. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Saying that (bending on one knee presenting an engagement ring) Would you marry me? Oops! Wrong Proposal written material! That is the one I used in my real-life Proposal pop to my wife. The one intended here is for the romantic comedy "The Proposal". Sandra Bullock stars as Margaret Tate, a domineering publisher executive who is threatened to be deported from the U.S. because of past illegal immigration business traveling. Margaret is Canadian. Ryan Reynolds co-stars as Andrew Paxton, Margaret's restless assistant who dreams of proposing himself to move up the publishing hierarchy to Editor. In a desperate & improvisational move to convince her bosses to let her stay employed and avoid deportation, Margaret pretends that she is engaged to Andrew. He is obviously oblivion to this firsthand but quickly sees Margaret's selfish motives. Margaret & Andrew travel to Alaska to visit Andrew's family for his grandmother's 90th Birthday, and consequently so Marg can learn more about Andrew & his Paxton family tree so she can ace the dreadful Immigration interrogation of marriage authenticity. Did Andrew and Margaret get at each other's throat in Alaska? Or do they fall for each other throughout this crazy ordeal? Does his family suspect the farce of it all? Does his grandmother survive? Does Margaret get to keep her job? Does she get deported? Am I asking way too many questions in this review? OK, I will stop! It is just that I am in this "popping the question" mode while scribing this Proposal review. One question I would definitely say "No" to is: If Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds had screen chemistry? Not to take away from their quasi-commendable performances, I just do not see Sandra being Ryan's hope as a compatible acting partner. And visa-versa for Sandra with Ryan, and that is no bullock! Betty White did have some golden scene-stealing efforts as Grandma Annie, but I would not give it a "grandmother clause" recognition because we have seen these shades of White numerous times before with her recent film characters in playing the loony geriatric. Craig T. Nelson and Mary Steenburgen looked bored portraying Andrew's parents. And Oscar Nunez playing the Latin zany "do-it-all" named Ramone became a running joke that became way too outlandish & creepy and disbarred credibility from his performance; even though there were some "guilty pleasure" smirks along the Ramone way. Screenwriter Pete Chiarelli should have proposed to write up a wittier and less formulaic screenplay than the one he offered for the film. Director Anne Fletcher tried to engage the audience with inventive comedic scenes, but not enough to accept her working of "The Proposal" as viably original. I do not think you should totally reject "The Proposal" but give it some time to think about it, and wait to rent it during its DVD release. End of Proposal! *** Average