The Proposal (2009)

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Directed by: Anne Fletcher

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Betty White, Mary Steenburgen

Running time: 108 minutes

An overbearing and mean executive editor in chief in a book publishing company finds out that she is about to be deported back to Canada because of a work visa problem. Not wanting to go back to her home country and end up unemployed, she convinces her assistant, who is afraid to lose his job too if she leaves, to marry her in a scam to avoid deportation. To sell this subterfuge, they will have to travel together to Alaska, for the groom-to-be’s family reunion.

This is your typical film where two people who cannot stand each other at first are forced to coexist. Inevitably, mutual feelings ensue and complications arise.

In spite of the run-of-the-mill storyline, this is a charming little romantic comedy, mostly thanks to the chemistry between Reynolds and Bullock and to the presence of Betty White and Mary Steenburgen. These last two experienced actresses bring a good dose of comedy as the grandma and mother of Ryan Reynolds’ character. Bullock is also very convincing as an uptight and domineering bitchy boss who needs to let go of the reigns a bit. The aspect of the father-son relationship between the characters of Ryan Reynolds and Craig T. Nelson was also compelling.

Overall, The Proposal proposes a very predictable flick, with very little in terms of surprises. That being said, the performance of the cast saves it from being forgettable and actually delivers a very charming piece of cinematic entertainment. Not extraordinary, but not bad either.

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