Lighter than air, and sometimes, that's okay

Rating: 7/10 (24 November 2009)

Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds star in "The Proposal," a 2009 Anne Fletcher film also starring Betty White, Craig T. Nelson and Mary Steenburgen. Bullock plays editor Margaret Tate, an uberbitch, who is about to be deported back to Canada due to a visa snafu. She forces her assistant, Andrew Paxton (Reynolds) to announce their engagement. After an extremely uncomfortable meeting with a no-nonsense man from immigration who smells a rat (Denis O'Hare), Margaret and Andrew have no choice but to travel to Paxton's family home in Alaska to announce their engagement. It's a little more than Margaret bargained for.
Totally predictable and typical Sandra Bullock fare on the style of "Two Weeks Notice" - however, Bullock excels at this type of romantic comedy and is always a joy to watch. There is a fun performance by Betty White as a 90-year-old grandmother who prays to the Indian spirits, and Oscar Nunez as Ramone, the only exotic dancer in town.
Without Bullock's warmth, charm, and honest emotions, this film would have been a real dud. Obviously, I'm a fan. Bullock started out as one of the flavors of the month about 16 years ago, and at 45, her output of films hasn't diminished. Like one of the classic film stars of the '30s and '40s, who all did their share of fair or bad movies, she can make just about anything enjoyable.