A sweet formula film that lets Bullock shine yet again

Rating: 6/10 (15 August 2010)

The Proposal (2009)
Well, I love Sandra Bullock, and the theme sounded good, and so I made myself enjoy those aspects of this film. But it' s formula flick. It has great laughs and some groaning moments and some clichés and silly parts that are forgettable. Not such a great film, as films go, but fun, as fun goes. That's not so much to scoff at.
Oh, it's a romantic comedy, probably falling in some "chick flick" category, and on that score it works. Bullock is frankly terrific--she plays an unlikable character and you like her anyway. She got her kudos recently with "The Blind Side" and deservedly, but she has a whole slew of other films, most of them pretty slim affairs, where she is alive and spontaneous and remarkable anyway. Her love interest here is a flat but charming Ryan Reynolds, who often plays these kinds of parts (and has a way of making it natural, but never quite inspired).
The director, one of a whole host of young women directors finally going mainstream, did "27 Dresses" previously, which put her on course here. It would be nice to see her not settling for a routine money maker, but use her ability to create a easy, funny, natural mood for something a little less superficial. That might just take better raw material.
But this is what it is, and if you're in the mood to not work too hard or be too involved, this might just pass the evening.