Movie Review: The Proposal (2009)
Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) is a successful hard-driving chief-editor at a prestigious Manhattan publisher. Because of her abusive management style, she is loathed by her coworkers. Her personal assistant and aspirant editor Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) has been slaving away for her for three years without any recognition. When Margaret faces deportation back to Canada due to an expired visa, she blackmails Andrew into marrying her so she can stay in the country. In return, he would be promoted to editor and she would publish his book. Meanwhile, the skeptical clerk of the immigration department vows to test the couple’s about each other after the weekend. The couple travels to Alaska, to celebrate the ninetieth birthday of Andrew’s grandmother (the spunky Betty White) and get her to meet the family. Awkward situations ensue…
A classic Sandra Bullock vehicle, The Proposal is a textbook romantic comedy that manages to hit every possible cliches of the genre despite starting out with a refreshing premise and getting good chemistry between its two co-stars. Not only do we get the usual “lovers hate each other at first” concept, but we also get the fish out of water one with Margaret wearing heels out in the country –umm where did I see this before? To make matters even more predictable, Andrew’s family is revealed to be fabulously wealthy as it’s obviously impossible to have a Hollywood love story without a glamorous background.
Sandra Bullock is good here, even demonstrating her screwball comedy prowess, and it helps that she doesn’t play her usual lovable rom-com character but a selfish, heartless and abusive boss. When she shows up in the office in the morning, her employees all enter a state of sheer frenzied terror reminiscent of the opening sequence of The Devil Wears Prada. Opposite her, Canuck Ryan Reynolds is surprisingly just as effective and charming as Andrew. Who knows? He might finally get over the hump and become an A-list leading man in the near future. What really works for this movie is that for once, it’s nice to see the female heroin who albeit somewhat dysfunctional, is intelligent and knows exactly what she wants while the male love interest gets to actually be a three-dimensional character.
The likable duo shares substantial chemistry and is helped by a talented supporting cast including the likes of Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson and Betty White who play Andrew’s mom, dad and grandmother respectively. Unfortunately, the movie begins to unravel badly in the last 15 minutes as we get even more cliches on top of the heap including a race to the airport and a declaration of love in the middle of the office as everyone cheers. The beautiful cinematography by Oliver Stapleton has the perennial vibrant glow that is present in nearly every Hollywood rom-com these days.
Painfully formulaic and forgettable, The Proposal squanders the very good chemistry between Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. Nevertheless, the two co-stars keep this slightly above-average romantic comedy relatively charming and entertaining.
B-
(6/10)
Lesson of the Day:
Notes: Rated PG-13 for sexual content, nudity and language, 108 minutes. A Touchstone Pictures release.
46 Comments
Eh? B-? It is passable I guess, but we’ve seen much worse so what the hell. Sandra Bullock doesn’t do much for me anymore, and this movie is so high on the sexism it’s almost a little crazy…but isn’t that the norm these days?
Yep – though, in fairness, when was the last mainstream romantic comedy you saw which wasn’t incredible sexist?
My main complaint about the movie is that, like you mention, it just completely ruins the chemistry of its two main leads. Their scenes together are the highlight of the film for me (Betty White playing the 1000000000th crazy granny in film history = got old), but when you think about it they have about 4 scenes together throughout the entire film. 10 minute opening, 10 minute closing, and about 10-20 minutes (bathroom + sleeping) in between. The rest of the time they’re apart. Annoyed me to no end.
You know, I love watching Sandra Bullock, who is enjoyable even in the lamest of films. But I think this one was a good comedy film though formulaic, Sandra and Reynold were excellent in it.
I thought this movie was uncharacteristically funny for its genre, which was what really saved it and got me to (mostly) ignore the abundance of cliches.
There is definitely something to be said for having thoroughly likable lead actors. Look at the abysmal “Ugly Truth” from that same summer… it was absolutely horrid, but mainly because its stars weren’t as likable as Bullock and Reynolds. Maybe that’s just because I have a massive man-crush on Reynolds?
Oh, and does anyone else think Mary Steenburgen is still ridiculously hot?
lol you had me for a minute, when you said “Look at the Ugly Truth”, I expected you to say it was a good movie thanks to its lead. This would obviously have destroyed all your credibility
Even I won’t say that Castor
I guess that one really lived up to its ugly name.
Richard Dean Anderson does.
I think Sandra was better in this than in “The Blind Side”. Nuff said.
I still have a scheduled lobotomy from her win on The Blind Side. Epic Fail.
Damn, I wanted to say what he said, but it sounded too snarky. I mean, sooner or later I have to let it go…but then again, if I can’t hold petty grudges on the internet…where else?
Crucially, she was also less racist.
I’ve got to agree with Jose on this one… I’m a sucker for Bullock’s movies, so it’s tough for me to hate on this one too much. I will say, you raise a good point about Reynolds’ character’s vast wealth. That was sort of an unnecessary addition. In this economy (yes, I’m guilty of cliches as well I suppose), it’s tough to watch these romantic comedies in which everyone gets the perfect job just by being adorable, and everyone has enough of a fortune to do jet off to wherever they please on a whim. Sheesh.
That being said, despite all of this, I very much liked this movie, believe it or not.
Stunning locations and glitzy backgrounds are apparently a must for today’s rom-coms so it’s easier to make the characters wealthy. Of course, some movies don’t even bother doing that and have the main character be a secretary living in a $800K condo.
I started a petition for Bullock to give her Oscar back. Any signers?
ME ME ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Only if she gives it to Carey Mulligan.
Ooooo, I was banking on Streep – but that’s fine. I can abide by that.
Love Streep, but Julia Child wasn’t her best. I’d give it to her for anything else she did this decade – that was nominated for an Oscar.
“Mamma Mia” … yeah, not so much.
Yes, Frank, you have my permission — sign my name on that thing! Although to be fair, even Sandra seemed shocked as sh** that she won. Or maybe that was an act. Every winner seems to look that way.
Castor, I agree with your rating. “The Proposal” wasn’t nearly as horrible as it could have been. Ryan Reynolds has proven he is a capable leading man (although watch him in “Definitely, Maybe” — a better movie all around) and Sandra Bullock could do rom-coms in her sleep. I like what she did with her character here, though — not just a stone-cold b***h but someone who’s been through emotional trauma and who’s learned not to rely on people. That kept me hanging in for the ride. That, and Betty White’s crazy fireside dance. What was that about?
Seeing Sandra Bullock shaking her booty alongside Betty White was a traumatic experience. I have blocked out most of that sequence.
That is almost a good enough reason for me to never watch it.
THAT WAS THE BEST PART OF THE MOVIE!
I loved Definitely, Maybe………….one of the few romantic films of the decade that spoke to me.
Agree with Encore, I loathed “Definitely Maybe.” Most awkward romantic comedy ever, and pretty darn formulaic. Abigail Breslin annoyed the crud out of me in that movie…and WTF is Rachel Weisz doing in that movie? She has an Oscar on her mantle!
M I have to disagree with you (which is, kind of a first). I HATE Definitely Maybe…I mean Reynolds (good), Derek Luke (good), Elizabeth Banks (good), Rachel Weisz (excellent) and still that movie manages to completely bore me…maybe I’m just not the target audience…
Abigail Breslin, in her pre-Zombieland time, makes me want to smack her, the precocious little shit. Like Chloe Moretz in 500 Days of Summer, but she redeemed herself quickly.
Betty White and Ryan Reynolds were hilarious, I’m not ashamed to say I enjoyed this.
I was half hoping Ryan Reynolds would show up on the Betty White SNL. They were the good things about this movie.
Even if you didn’t like this movie, you can’t NOT love Betty White hosting SNL. We have this movie to thank for that.
Sometimes we are forced to watch bad movies with our wives or girlfriends and if I’m going to be subjected to cinematic torture then it’s nice to find a “chick flick” that doesn’t make your skin crawl with disgusting disgustingness. Ryan Reynolds cracks me up and Sandra Bullock being almost entirely naked makes this a very watchable movie, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like it a little.
Y’know, I started hating this, but when the Blnd Side came out and proceeded to disillusion America, I realized it wasn’t so bad. Harmless, if you will.
I thank God every day for Jesse James.
I like Bullock and like Meredith said, she can do rom coms in her sleep. But can’t say I’m impressed with this one. Painfully formulaic and forgettable is right Castor, and I’m afraid I’d have to disagree with you on the chemistry between Reynolds & Bullock. I guess I just didn’t see it. They look believable as friends or maybe a fling, but love? That’s a stretch. And funny you mention Devil Wears Prada, I sense that Bullock was channeling Meryl’s cruella devile but I didn’t buy it. She’s just got that inherent likable quality that she can’t quite shake even when playing a total b***h. But still better than TUT in any way shape or form, EVEN with Butler!!
So I only have one signature for my petition or what? What if I add Halle Berry giving her Oscar back too?
I’d consider if if you added Denzel Washington.
Alright, I’ll add Denzel too. Sounds like a deal.
WHAT? Denzel was incredible in “Training Day” … a totally different side of him. It was gritty and intense and unexpected. I loved every minute of it.
His Oscar for Training Day was the mother of all make-ups. Malcom X…?
MAJOR guilty pleasure here. I loved “The Proposal.” Loved Sandra, loved Ryan Reynolds, loved Oscar from “The Office,” and especially Golden Girl Betty White.
I thought I was going to die when Sandra dances to “Get Low” out in the forest.
Who doesn’t love Betty White. I would.
Would? I do love Betty White. She goes there … at 88.
“I would” referring to sex.
I thought that this movie was tremendous waste of time. The only things good about the film were Betty White, Oscar Nunez and Ryan Reynolds naked. That’s it.
Every so often Hollywood will give us a romantic film that betrays convention and dares to do something unique (500 days of Summer) but usually it will spew out stuff like The Proposal. Essentially, these movies are based on a template that is simply turned out every other month with the A-list male and female stars of the moment. Yet, these films make money and are still loved by those that like this formula – that’s why they keep making them I guess. As I type, my girlfriend is just leaving for the cinema – she’s off to see The Proposal for a third time!
Dan
Top10Films
I’m nominating Sandra Bullock for the Nobel Peace Prize.
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