The Proposal
BY Ryan LaMarca / 2009-08-13
It is the unwritten rule that all romantic comedy films must follow the same formula. Every once in a while, a romantic comedy will try to break from tradition and be its own movie. "The Proposal" starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds is not one of those films. It is as formulaic as formula gets, but due to of a host of reasons, that aspect of its design does not hinder the movie from being completely enjoyable and actually quite funny.
Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) is a successful businesswoman who has made quite the reputation as the editor-in-chief of a major book company in New York. She has a heart of ice and revels in it as well as in the notion of torturing her employees, especially her personal assistant, Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds). However, troubling news arrives when Margaret learns she will have to leave her job because she is being deported back to Canada. As an immediate fix, she announces her marriage to Andrew, a union that will allow her to legally remain in the United States.
Weary about the awkward situation this will place him in, Andrew reluctantly agrees, if only to further his career. Without Margaret, Andrew would likely be fired, crushing his chances of ever becoming anything more than an assistant. To reveal their "engagement" to Andrew's family, the newly formed couple head to his home in Alaska to celebrate his grandmother's (Betty White) birthday. Will true love conquer all?
What an amazing cast to have for a film such as this: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Betty White, Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson, all pros in the business. Sandra Bullock acts smoothly and naturally, falling into the role with great ease, and comes off as the funniest of the cast. Her pairing with Ryan Reynolds is a perfect choice as the two have a very unique relationship in the film. Mr. Reynolds works much better within the confines of a comedy film rather than a serious action film, and it's evident in "The Proposal."
God bless her, the great Betty White, at age 87, makes another fantastic performance in "The Proposal." Ms. White is renowned for her many years in the business and her knack for getting laughs is put to great use in this film, elevating it beyond standard rom-com tripe. She's a sassy grandma who always speaks her mind and never hides her feelings, no matter how harsh they may sound, and it's always genuinely funny, even when she and Sandra Bullock engage in a strange ritualistic Indian dance in the forest.
It's almost shocking for me to believe how much I liked "The Proposal," especially with my disdain for director Anne Fletcher's body of work. Her past credits include the painfully dull assembly line rom-com "27 Dresses" and the hyperactive teen dance movie "Step Up." Making "The Proposal" skew towards a slightly older and more mature demographic wanting to see this type of film helps it tremendously. Sandra Bullock, as well, is not a major headliner for the teenage audience and therefore does not attempt to or need to pander to that audience. And in that regard, the humor in "The Proposal" reaches its potential and produces results.
But as long as the laughs keep rolling in and the plot keeps rolling along, the staleness of it all doesn't become a major issue. The most important thing of all is having fun in a movie, especially one like this, one not made for anything else but pure entertainment. If you cannot stand the entire genre or even the notion of the standard change-of-heart story and the fish-out-of-water story, then I would suggest going elsewhere.
Just because a movie is formulaic doesn't mean it's automatically bad. Many good movies follow a formula, but putting the audience in the right mood with a tried and true storyline that results in feel-good entertainment is never a bad thing. Because of the electrifying chemistry between Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, the inclusion of the magnificent Betty White, and the movie's ability to get a hearty supply of laughter, "The Proposal" comes recommended. If you must see one romantic comedy this year, this is the one to see.
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