Surprisingly better than expected!

Rating: 8/10 (13 January 2010)

THE PROPOSAL as written by Pete Chiarelli and directed by Anne Fletcher looks on the surface (posters, promos. trailer) like yet another version of tough woman manipulates subservient guy in a toss that ends up in a role reversal. And in many ways that is what this film is about: hard-as-rocks but beautiful editor Margaret (Sandra Bullock) verbally abuses her assistant, wannabe author Andrew (Ryan Reynolds), until her employers discover her visa is expired and she is to be deported to her native Canada. A fast thought drives her to claim that she and Andrew are engaged in a ploy to avoid deportation. Shocked at first, Andrew decides to make this ultimate blow to his ego work for him and takes Margaret to his home in Siska, Alaska to meet his family - mother (Mary Steenburgen), father (Craig T. Nelson) and wildly alive grandmother (Betty White) - where Margaret must play the charade. Of course in the beauty of Alaska and under the influence of the warmth of a family Margaret never had, the expected magic happens and ... you know the rest.
Sandra Bullock is good and creates a solid character, but it is Ryan Reynolds who proves his chops as one of the best comedic actors on the screen today. It is a fun outing. Whether or not it deserves the Golden Globe attention mush less Oscar attention is up for question, but it is a pleasant diversion for some very fine comedians.
Grady Harp