Lyzsi SinclairMovie Review - "The Proposal"...
Continuing what seems to be a very random streak of romantic comedies (especially given that they are my least favourite genre), we have a look at the 2009 film “The Proposal”. It stars Sandra Bullock (“Miss Congeniality”), Ryan Reynolds (“Blade: Trinity”), Craig T. Nelson (“Blades of Glory”), Malin Akerman (“Watchmen”), Mary Steenburgen (“Joan of Arcadia”), and Betty White (“The Golden Girls”).
Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) is a tightly-wound, but hugely successful book editor. Her life revolves around her work and maintaining the ‘office-bitch’ reputation she has built up – leaving her no time, or need for finding love. However when Visa issues means she faces deportation back to Canada and the loss of a job she’s worked so hard for – she instantly announces her engagement to her assistant Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) as a way of staying in the country and keeping her job. After working for her for three and a half years, he begrudging goes along with it – especially since working for Margaret means he no longer has a life of his own anymore. However when immigration begin to smell a rat, Margaret accompanies Andrew to his hometown of Sitka, Alaska to give them a chance to get to know each other, announce their impending marriage to his family and get the authorities off their case. With Margaret experiencing a normal family life for the first time, her self-built hard shell begins to crack and she finds herself actually falling for her assistant. It’s not enough to convince immigration though who are hot on their heels, and with the wedding pushed forward by Andrew’s family - will Margaret and Andrew go through with it; or will someone come clean first...?
Well this film is a pleasant comedy filled with more than its fair share of laughs. Reynolds and Bullock work really well together and have a great on-screen chemistry. I wouldn’t say it’s one of the best chemistry’s in cinema – but it gets the job done. Reynolds plays a role he is good at – a witty (with slight sarcasm) handsome heartthrob who you find yourself falling for – making him the perfect love-interest. Bullock is fantastically funny, particularly with physical comedy skills that are known to be one of her strongest skill sets. It’s really great how her character develops in this film (even if it follows the usual Hollywood predictability), especially as even though she’s hard and callous at the start – the audience will never hate her, in fact she is very likeable as such.
Despite the slight Hollywood predictability of her character, this film actually isn’t as predictable as most romantic comedies that hail from there. The story is still able to flow along quite nicely – and there are plenty of genuinely funny laugh out loud moments. Betty White is as comical
as Bullock in some of the scenes they share – in fact the entire supporting cast is terrific and fit inside the plot well. Oscar Nuñez (“The Office: An American Workplace”) is hilarious as the small-town guy who seems to do most jobs in the tiny village (including exotic dancer…yes mull on that image for a minute or two.) However, Malin Akerman as Gertrude – Andrew’s ex girlfriend – was actually a slightly confusing addition to the cast for me. I mean it’s good the plot didn’t go along the traditional “let’s reconcile old loves” storyline, but her part seemed so short, random and pointless that it seemed unnecessary for her to be there. I doubt I’ll ever make up my mind on whether she should have been there or not (I myself actually really quite like Malin Akerman, whatever roles she takes, so it’s hard to decide.)
The story is set up well and fast at the start, giving it less of a film-script feel, and more of a slight real-life edge. For a romantic comedy, there isn’t too much ‘sap’ either – no lingering-for-hours looks – just a story that plays out fast and straight. Bullock at the start seemed to echo slightly the feel of the character Miranda Priestly in the film “The Devil Wears Prada” (played by Meryl Streep), a character trait that was suitably softened by the end, but not by too much. The ending of the film suited it well, and although Bullock’s character did turn into a bit of a whimpering mess – she wasn’t a pathetic whimpering mess, and that’s where it counts. Overall production values on this film add to the feel of it, but don’t take anything away from the actors; and the music was fairly pleasing – but not too noticeable, and therefore not too distracting (the way it should be.) The score and particular theme used for the moments when Margaret and Andrew had ‘lovey’ scenes was a highlight for me, falling second only to Sandra Bullock and Betty White ‘rap-chanting’ the song “Get Low” by Lil Jon around a fire in the woods.
“The Proposal” is a well-timed comedy that delivers everything you’d want without giving the game away beforehand. It has some very memorable laughs (one or two of which I think will become classic comedy moments in film) – but somehow isn’t quite strong enough to be remembered or rated as a fantastically amazing romantic comedy. “The Proposal” gets a 7/10 from me. Flix Out.
Oh and as a P.S. – I’m going to try and stay away from romantic comedy films for a bit after my review on Tuesday of up-coming July cinema release "Heartbreaker" starring Vanessa Paradis. After that, I think I’ll have had more than my fair share of them, for a little while at least…
Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) is a tightly-wound, but hugely successful book editor. Her life revolves around her work and maintaining the ‘office-bitch’ reputation she has built up – leaving her no time, or need for finding love. However when Visa issues means she faces deportation back to Canada and the loss of a job she’s worked so hard for – she instantly announces her engagement to her assistant Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) as a way of staying in the country and keeping her job. After working for her for three and a half years, he begrudging goes along with it – especially since working for Margaret means he no longer has a life of his own anymore. However when immigration begin to smell a rat, Margaret accompanies Andrew to his hometown of Sitka, Alaska to give them a chance to get to know each other, announce their impending marriage to his family and get the authorities off their case. With Margaret experiencing a normal family life for the first time, her self-built hard shell begins to crack and she finds herself actually falling for her assistant. It’s not enough to convince immigration though who are hot on their heels, and with the wedding pushed forward by Andrew’s family - will Margaret and Andrew go through with it; or will someone come clean first...?
Will Margaret go through with it...or will her conscience set it?
Well this film is a pleasant comedy filled with more than its fair share of laughs. Reynolds and Bullock work really well together and have a great on-screen chemistry. I wouldn’t say it’s one of the best chemistry’s in cinema – but it gets the job done. Reynolds plays a role he is good at – a witty (with slight sarcasm) handsome heartthrob who you find yourself falling for – making him the perfect love-interest. Bullock is fantastically funny, particularly with physical comedy skills that are known to be one of her strongest skill sets. It’s really great how her character develops in this film (even if it follows the usual Hollywood predictability), especially as even though she’s hard and callous at the start – the audience will never hate her, in fact she is very likeable as such.
Despite the slight Hollywood predictability of her character, this film actually isn’t as predictable as most romantic comedies that hail from there. The story is still able to flow along quite nicely – and there are plenty of genuinely funny laugh out loud moments. Betty White is as comical
You haven't lived until you've seen Oscar Nuñez strut his funky stuff!
The story is set up well and fast at the start, giving it less of a film-script feel, and more of a slight real-life edge. For a romantic comedy, there isn’t too much ‘sap’ either – no lingering-for-hours looks – just a story that plays out fast and straight. Bullock at the start seemed to echo slightly the feel of the character Miranda Priestly in the film “The Devil Wears Prada” (played by Meryl Streep), a character trait that was suitably softened by the end, but not by too much. The ending of the film suited it well, and although Bullock’s character did turn into a bit of a whimpering mess – she wasn’t a pathetic whimpering mess, and that’s where it counts. Overall production values on this film add to the feel of it, but don’t take anything away from the actors; and the music was fairly pleasing – but not too noticeable, and therefore not too distracting (the way it should be.) The score and particular theme used for the moments when Margaret and Andrew had ‘lovey’ scenes was a highlight for me, falling second only to Sandra Bullock and Betty White ‘rap-chanting’ the song “Get Low” by Lil Jon around a fire in the woods.
“The Proposal” is a well-timed comedy that delivers everything you’d want without giving the game away beforehand. It has some very memorable laughs (one or two of which I think will become classic comedy moments in film) – but somehow isn’t quite strong enough to be remembered or rated as a fantastically amazing romantic comedy. “The Proposal” gets a 7/10 from me. Flix Out.
Oh and as a P.S. – I’m going to try and stay away from romantic comedy films for a bit after my review on Tuesday of up-coming July cinema release "Heartbreaker" starring Vanessa Paradis. After that, I think I’ll have had more than my fair share of them, for a little while at least…
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I enjoyed this one too, it was a bit silly yet fun to watch.
Tracy