The Proposal the right romcom for the summer
Written: Jun 16 '09 (Updated Jun 21 '09)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Bang For The Buck |
 |
|
|
Pros: All the actors are at their comedic best.
Cons: The storyline is familiar, the ending is predictable.
The Bottom Line: It's predictable but fun, lots of laughs. 3.5 stars.
|
|
|
| lli_wright's Full Review: The Proposal |
Sandra Bullock is at it again, pretending to be in love with someone she's not. If you recall we met Bullock in While you Were sleeping as the fiancé of a comatose man who was really in love with his gorgeous brother. One of the top romantic comedies of that era, it catapulted Bullock to the top of Hollywood's power women list. Since that time she has made hit after hit mostly romantic comedies, where she is comfortable and accepted by the audience. A few years ago, she showed her drama capabilities in Crash as the wife of a reputable government official.
One of the most stunning looking women on film, Bullock knows her audience and her strengths, thus she returns in another pretending-to-love a man role. The Proposal opens with Margaret Tate (Bullock), a high-powered editor-in -chief sarcastically giving orders to her editorial assistant Andrew (Ryan Reynolds) while the office employees cower in fear at her every movement. Think: Streep in the Devil Wears Prada. Margaret steadily walks the hallways of the company in high heels that if got any higher would sprout wings. Andrew, a very collegiate-executive looking guy, has the coffee and newspaper ready at her entrance and takes notes while following her sheepishly down the hallways. He also tries to champion a manuscript by a new author that Margaret keeps overlooking. She is more fixated on the Oprah interview by another author whose book she's pushing.
She is called impulsively into her CEO's office and told that because she's Canadian and her visa privileges have expired, she has to leave the country. [Now, you have to suspend disbelief here, because no matter how hurried one's life is, an immigrant working in the U.S. knows to keep your visa status updated.] Immediately and just as impulsively she turns to her assistant and declares that they are getting married, she then shuffles him to the immigration office to convince the agent they are indeed in love and getting married.
From there the romantic comedy takes flight.
There are two things romantic comedies should have: a) the audience must believe in the end that the two antagonists have found true love through all the trials and tribulations; and b) lots of screwy laugh scenes. Proposal scores on both. It scores on a) because of Ryan Reynolds, who in the end looks like he has fallen in love with Bullock's character. Not so convinced that Margaret is as in love with him because of her cold heart, but along the way we find out she was orphaned at a teen age and has been on her own since. The ages of the two are not revealed, but estimate around the early to mid 30s for both. That's a long time to be without family and self-supporting. As someone who is a self-supporting single woman, I can empathize with her toughness. It gets that way when you are alone.
Andrew originates from Alaska and the two make the trek to convince the family members, as well as the immigration agent that they are engaged and love each other. If it weren't for Bette White's grandmother character and Bullock's character interacting in several scenes, I'm not sure this would have come off as funny. Both actresses are superb movie comediennes.
There are several downsides you will have to overlook to enjoy the movie. Of course it's formulaic (opposites attract) and that Margaret was "orphaned at 16" seems phoney. Andrew's father played by Craig T. Nelson, comes across as gruff and and a killjoy. Nelson's character takes away the fun of the movie.
Bullock's wardrobe is to die-for and you want to ask, "where'd she get those shoes, that suit, those cargo pants" while admiring her svelte figure at 45 years old. The landscape shots of Alaska are mesmerizing and surely will start a tourism rush.
This movie will appeal to Bullock's fans (which I am one) and those who love a good laughable romantic comedy.
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Funny Movie
Viewing Method: Press Screening
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Ending
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
lli_wright
|
|
Location: Chicago, IL, US
Reviews written: 244
Trusted by: 13 members
About Me:
Working stiff who loves to give opinions to anybody who will listen.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.