The Proposal

Rating: Null/10 (14 July 2009)

The Proposal actually had me for quite awhile. It never had me thinking to myself "wow, this is an amazing film," but it did have me laughing, liking the characters and thinking it a solid-romantic comedy. By the film's end those sentiments were almost entirely erased because of a handful of incredibly stupid scenes that were either not needed or trying to force additional conflict where none was needed. It's a shame because if the film were to be left to the style it held throughout the first half it could have ended up being a middle-ground romantic comedy. For anyone that hasn't seen the preview, which fully outlines the plot, let me give you the run down. Andrew works for Margaret at a book publisher. Everyone fears Margaret. There are a number of scenes to display and explain that. The conflict begins when Margaret is notified that her visa application was denied and she has to move back to Canada and then won't be able to work for the company. Why her visa was denied? Not really explained. Why she still couldn't work in some capacity for the company? Not explained at all. I was able to move pass those because I'm sure visa applications do get denied, especially if steps are missed as is mentioned, and I'm sure some corporations are stingy on American employment. Move on. To fix this Margaret blackmails Andrew into marrying her. They'll stay married for a year or two and then divorce. In turn, he won't get fired when she leaves the company as she reassures him he would. Andrew also would be able to move up to editor after the fake marriage is broken up. Later, Andrew, when Margaret is in a compromising position, is able to negotiate an immediate promotion and the publishing of a certain book he found. At this point we know what to expect. Andrew, who at this point loathes Margaret, will end up falling in love with her. And her, well her icy demeanor will certainly melt when they go off to Alaska to meet his family, and of course, tell them they're engaged. For awhile, the performances of Ryan Reynolds and rom-com vet Sandra Bullock are enough to carry the film and keep it interesting. The film lingers for long enough to make me wonder: Are they going to marry and not end up falling in love? To have me wonder, given the cast and plot, is a testament to the film staying patient with the material. Reynolds carries the comic load with only minimal help from some minor characters, primarily his grandmother, played by Betty White. Alaska brings a bitter father and an ex-girlfriend but it never brought that scene that I feared. The scene where they admit they really love each other. In only fairness, I'll leave the ending ambiguous. I give the film credit for not lending itself to having scenes that it could have, going down roads that would have ruined it much faster and quicker. It let its two leads play back and forth for just long enough and it gave them enough back story, enough good lines, to make them both likable. We root for them. Unfortunately, the film crumbles as quickly as its delicate balance built it up by scenes that were out of place (you'll know them) and by things happening that would never occur (again, you'll know them). It forces things. It ignores its formula of letting things play out, letting the actors bring it to where we want it go. It tries to escalate things when all we want is for things to settle and continue on as they're meant to. To end predictability after navigating past predictable plot-holes (confusing confessions of love, for example) would have been a marginal success, but to fail so badly with that chance in hand makes it a disaster.