The Proposal (2009)

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Malin Akerman, Craig T. Nelson, Mary Steenburgen, Betty White, Denis O’Hare, Oscar Nunez
Director: Anne Fletcher
Screenplay: Peter Chiarell

“The Proposal” is the movie that nobody saw coming. The consensus was that Julia Roberts, age 42, is too old to successfully open a weekend, and here comes Sandra Bullock, who was practically considered prehistoric, aged 45, setting new box office records. Although it was expected that the movie would bring the usual income that typical romantic comedies bring and in spite of the mixed reviews, people came in huge numbers to see it, maybe brought by this particular statement: “It drives me insane when movies are called romantic comedies when most of them are neither romantic nor funny. ‘The Proposal’ is the last funny comedy. “

Here she plays the boss from hell, closely related to Miranda from “The Devil Wears Prada”, who finds herself about to be deported (or “de-por-TED”) to her home country Canada because she was busy working and thus did not  really read the received INS warnings. Her genius idea is to blackmail her assistant to marry her. The poor assistant is played by Ryan Reynolds, an expert in frat boy comedies who has apparently evolved. He’s good, pretty and patient, the ideal man. If we decide to believe the lame premise, more shenanigans ensue at his parents’ house, where they shamelessly lie to his whole family.

I expected to cringe watching this movie. I saw my fair share of comedies and I can’t say that I had my hopes up. Still, I was surprised how much I loved the main characters, together or separately. Sandra Bullock is a trademark; she has the kind of perfect comedic timing that should be taught in acting classes, classes that would help Kate Hudson become bearable. And she makes her character likeable, even though it’s not an easy task. Reynolds is up for the challenge, and their continuous banter is the best part of the movie. He’s very believable as the stressed employee and/or the abused man. I laughed a few times, in spite of myself, and I wanted them to love each other happily ever after (let’s pretend that was not totally predictable). Another great advantage: no joke or line hints to the age difference (Ryan is 32), and many other flicks wouldn’t have missed that opportunity. Sandra’s fans will see more than she has ever shown before on screen, and Ryan’s fans will be delighted be the way he listens to music after jogging.

There had to be some cons, right? Well, the rest of the cast is pointless, obviously placed in a pathetic attempt to bring a new dimension into the story. Betty White embarrasses herself in the most awkward scene of the movie. She makes it up by faking a heart attack. The whole story is condensed into just 72 hours and you fail to understand how these people who have worked together for so long can fall in love in such a short period of time.  In the hands of a less charismatic couple of leads, this script would be at the bottom of the pit from which Matthew McConaughey is desperately seeking a way out. And on top of that, we are witnesses to a vomit inducing striptease scene that I’ve completely blocked out. And finally, there is nothing original about this movie, it sticks to the classic clichés and takes minimal chances, afraid to try to attract new crowds because it may lose its target audience.

6 potatoes for a pleasant afternoon, filled with good spirits and fun, watching two great actors star in a story that I did not bother to understand or to try to make sense out of, two things that I recommend to whoever goes to see this movie.