The Proposal

By Dan Hudak // hudakonhollywood.com

Hudak's Rating: "C" / not worth the $10.

Say no to this Proposal.

For some, the desire to see “The Proposal” is based solely on the fact that Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock are naked together in a bedroom scene. Fair enough, though you should prepare for disappointment. For more discerning tastes — those who expect real chemistry between romantic leads, funny jokes and at least a moderately believable story — this is a movie to skip.

Bullock plays Margaret Tate, a bitchy New York City book editor who walks all over her lowly assistant, Andrew Paxton (Reynolds). She’s also Canadian and doesn’t realize her visa is about to expire, so she tells her bosses she and “Drew” are engaged. He reluctantly agrees to play along, but problems ensue when an immigration officer (Denis O’Hare) questions the validity of their union. In an effort to prove their love, she travels with him to his hometown of Sitka, Alaska, for his Grandma Annie’s (Betty White) 90th birthday party, meets his parents (Mary Steenburgen and Craig T. Nelson) and, of course, really does fall in love with him.

Margaret’s only competition for Drew comes from his high school sweetheart Gertrude (Malin Akerman, “Watchmen”), who’s neither cute nor sassy enough to win him back. I mean, what guy wouldn’t want the girl who’s been a royal bitch to him for three years when his true love comes back in the picture? Nah, give me the hyper-dominant, odious alpha girl whose mere presence I couldn’t stand three days ago — she’ll make me happy forever.

Margaret’s affection (I can’t bring myself to call it “love”) for Drew is, of course, in accordance with the golden rule of romantic comedies, which clearly states that the heroine must be in love with either a) the guy she can’t stand, or b) the guy who can’t stand her, by the time the movie ends. If this doesn’t happen, the movie is not a romantic comedy, it’s a drama.
And in truth, “The Proposal” may as well have been a drama. Many of the supposedly funny bits feel forced and desperate, including the aforementioned naked scene. Part of the problem is that Reynolds and Bullock have zero chemistry, making every scene between them awkward. Drew’s daddy drama is a waste of everyone’s time, and we no doubt could’ve died happy without hearing Betty White say the words “smack his ass.” And if the poor quality of “The Proposal” isn’t enough, Bullock will always be able to look back on the chanting ceremony with White and have deep, deep regrets.

There are a few amusing moments in director Anne Fletcher’s (“27 Dresses”) film, but not enough to overcome the bland and predictable story. Die-hard fans of Reynolds and Bullock may be amused by the saccharine cuteness of it all, but the rest of us will be eager for the unhappily ever after to commence so we can leave the theater. Unhappily. "C"

Did you know? In the movie Bullock plays a Canadian and Reynolds’ character is American. In reality, Bullock is an American and Reynolds is Canadian.

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