Ryan Reynolds is a silent charmer. He has definitely come a long way from Waiting and Just Friends. Some of his best acting in this movie is the surprised expressions he gives when he is put in a predicament. For all the girls, Reynold's perfectly toned body is definitely worth a watch. Sandra Bullock continues to remain a breath of fresh air. Her acting suits the snooty, uptown, New York city woman perfectly. In spite of the age difference, Reynolds and Bullock have palpable chemistry that makes this movie a charming romantic-comedy.
The Proposal's Plot in a Paragraph
Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) is a demanding editor who pushes her secretary Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) to work around-the-clock. She is detested by the workers in the publishing company. She comes to find out through her bosses that she is being deported to Canada, when she gets the idea that she could ask Paxton to marry her if she threatens him with his job. Then begins a series of deceptions as Paxton and Tate try to convince Paxton's parents and the immigration officer that they are genuinely in love and are to be married. If the immigration officer finds out otherwise, Paxton will face imprisonment and $250,000 in fines. The relationship between Paxton and his father is fickle and becomes even more delicate as the father detests Andrew's life in New York City, his job and his “fiancee.”
Memorable Moments of the Proposal
Oscar Nunez and his multiple characters definitely provide a good laugh. His scene as a male stripper will leave you squirming in the seat and turning your face away in pain, but he does the job well by playing a sleazy and cheap, yet loved and popular stripper at a local bar in Alaska. Betty White plays the perfect grandmother- loving and embarrassing a lot of the time. The scene between White and Bullock in the forest chanting to mother nature is hilarious. Bullock's “original” chant will leaving you laughing and will attract you to the goofiness of her character. A lot of scenes between Reynolds and Bullock are heart-warming, especially the conversation between them after Bullock nearly drowns. Mary Steenburgen who plays Grace Maxton is nothing short of charming. She delivers her dialogs perfectly with the emotions of a caring mother.
A Must-See? Not Really, but a Tried-and-Tested Romantic Comedy Formula
Director Anne Fletcher does a good job in providing light and romantic entertainment. This movie is a little more predictable than her previous movie 27 Dresses, but it has all the elements for an enjoyable comedy. The scenery is beautiful and the much-talked about scene between Reynolds and Bullock show that both are fit and athletic. All the actors are a perfect fit for their characters. The movie does tend to get a little boring with the same predictable scenes, but the pace picks up with Betty White and Oscar Nunez. They provide a good supplement to the movie. Reynolds and Bullock could not have held the entire movie together by themselves, but both prove that their acting is effortless.
The Proposal is not an Oscar-worthy movie, but it is a pleasant entertainer. Watch it with your girlfriends, mothers, but spare the men. Do not be in a hurry to leave the theater. The immigration interview during the end-credits provides a good laugh.
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