The Proposal Directed by: Anne Fletcher Cast: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson, Betty White, Malin Akerman Running Time: 1 hr 44 mins Rating: PG-13 Release Date: June 19, 2009
Plot: Margaret (Bullock) is going to get deported back to Canada, that is until she comes up with an idea ... marry her assistant (Reynolds). Now the two are off to Alaska to meet his family, to try and prove this is a real engagement and they're very much in love. What could go wrong? Answer: many things.
Who’s It For? If you are blinded by the romantic comedy genre then line up, but the film depends a little too much on awkward situations revolving around Bullock, than any sort of romantic connection between the two leads.
Expectations: At this stage, I like Reynolds more than Bullock and the only thing I'm nervous about is that Bullock will come off as SO annoying as the controlling boss that I will simply feel sorry for Reynolds the entire time.
SCORECARD (0-10)
Actors: Sandra Bullock as Margaret Tate: Margaret is an ice queen. Everyone in the office walks on egg shells around her and she's not to be messed with. Bullock pulls this off great, which is surprising because I can't recall seeing this side of her before. The problem is, the film's jokes really depend on fish-out-of-water laughs, or in this case, tightly-wound-business-executive-in-Alaska and even though that's Bullock's bread and butter it feels terribly forced and out of place for the character. Score: 5
Ryan Reynolds as Andrew Paxton: Reynolds proved his romantic-comedy chops with Definitely, Maybe and here (especially in the beginning) he brings his A-game. As the assistant how gets abused his comedic timing and one-liners are perfect. It's unfortunate they dismiss him once they arrive in Alaska. Suddenly this becomes Bullock's show and Reynolds is just along for the ride. With that switch, they never try to truly spend time developing the romance of these two people over a four-day period. Score: 7
Mary Steenburgen as Grace: It's the perfect name for this character. She is full of love and any time the film centered on her it felt real. Too bad The Proposal didn't focus on this a little more, and if they ever want to make a romantic comedy where Steenburgen's one dying wish is to see her son marry, I'm in. Score: 7
Craig T. Nelson as Joe: Around the time of The Family Stone I had the thought that sounded perfect at the time ... Nelson should play every dad in every romantic comedy. He just seems built for it. Well J.K. Simmons stole that role or maybe it just seems that way, and when Nelson has had the chance, he's been saddled with one-note characters like Joe. I don't think he was given one funny line. Score: 4
Betty White as Grandma Annie: I have a theory ... we develop comedic shortcuts in life because we want to be a part of the funny, and be able to recognize it so we can share laughter with people. Insert White, who plays a role where she roles her eyes and gets a laugh. As a society, we've decided that old white grandmas who act crazy in films are funny. It's our short cut ... but really, if you analyze what White does with this role, there's just not enough funny in it. Malcolm Gladwell could probably write an entire book on this, I'm good for a paragraph ... go figure. Score: 6
Talking: Well, there really isn't any between Andrew and Margaret once in Alaska. Sure they have little recaps in the bedroom, but it's a shame there isn't more moments between the two leads. Score: 4
Sights: Some shots are from Alaska, but the movie isn't filmed there. While Bullock's outfits seem perfect for a tightly-wound executive, I wish just once that an intelligent woman would be smart enough to pack comfortable shoes (not extreme high heels) when heading off to a weekend getaway. Score: 5
Sounds: "It Takes Two" by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock is always a welcome addition, but it's the film's score that isn't. It's really overproduced sound that starts wacky or heartfelt music way too early and way too loud trying to force the audience to feel exactly what The Proposal wants you to. Score: 3
PLOT SPOILERS
Best Scene: Naked. The camera work and comedic timing of this scene are near perfect. It's amazing we see as much skin as we do (especially from Bullock).
Ending: "Marry me because I would like to date you," is a very good line, but it's really the only thing that you should remember from this ending. Plus, the INS agent asks a series on inane questions that are supposed to elicit laughs during the end credits.
Questions: How many times did the movie separate Margaret and Andrew so something "wacky" could happen to Bullock? So did Margaret begin to fall for Andrew because she felt sorry for him and his relationship with his dad? Why would a staged kiss in front of a room full of strangers do anything for Margaret? And perhaps most importantly, did they really have to go to Alaska simply because they told the INS agent they would? Wouldn't a better plan have been to just stay in New York and study? Did you notice at two different times in the film Andrew and Margaret say their relationship is one year and then six months? What's odd is, the film doesn't treat this as a mistake or a chance for the INS agent to unravel the mystery.
Rewatchability: I will always stop and watch the first part of this film if I catch it on TV, but then I will eventually realize I have watched too long and should have changed the channel 10 minutes ago.
OVERALL
Margaret's main goal is to get a visa so she can stay in this country and not get deported to Canada. It's a movie device that feels way too overused, but that's not the unbelievable part. It's the fact that Margaret remains mean to the one person willing to help her. She also doesn't care about studying a list of questions which will supposedly be the key to the visa. For a smart, driven person this makes no sense.
Through most of Andrew's actions, it makes sense that he's not interested, but instead repulsed by Margaret. He sees a chance to get a promotion and takes advantage. Heck, even at the end of the film when he's expressing the reasons he doesn't care for Margaret to Malin Akerman (barely in the film) it actually feels like he doesn't care like her, let alone love her. So why does he give her chase?.. The best I can figure is that they both feel sorry for each other. That's what the movie explains to us ... besides of course a very awkward, boring public kiss that somehow gives them both sparks. But the real reason is more simple ... it's because it's a romantic comedy. Done and done.
From Step Up to 27 Dresses and now to The Proposal Anne Fletcher is getting better, but here's the film they should have made ... Margaret constantly wants to study the list of questions because she wants a visa, but slowly she realizes Andrew is a real person and she forms a connection by actually spending time with him. A romantic comedy needs the two leads together on the screen, not at a strip club, dealing with a cute dog or trying on a dress. Plus, all they needed was one line from Bullock about how good it feels to let go (after being so tightly wound since her parents' death at the age of 16).
Just like Up, the first 20 minutes are the best part, and that's about where the comparisons stop. They had the pieces in place for The Proposal but it slowly fell apart.
Final Score: 5/10