Attending The Proposal in Costume? Naked Sandra Bullock/ Ryan Reynolds Discouraged!
Written: Jul 01 '09 (Updated Jul 06 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Bullock and Reynolds are a fine comic pair, some funny moments
Cons: Largely forgettable and nothing special, awkward unfunny characters
The Bottom Line: Hey, you could do worse looking for laughs at the local theater right now. But you could do better too.
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| Goatius's Full Review: The Proposal |
Still in the afterglow of the wild interactive cinematic experience The Room the night before, the idea of going to see the summer's typical romantic comedy The Proposal this past weekend seemed bound to let down. It was only through joking around, imagining what if The Proposal developed a rabid cult following and people brought props and went in costume (or in this film's case, nude), that got me at least interested in going.
Because you see, The Proposal is a film whose jokes are built very much on shocking amount of skin, shockingly inappropriate behavior from unlikely people, and misunderstandings and deceit that is bound to be discovered in the end. In short, it's every other romantic comedy of recent years, just with slightly glossier packaging, and a shiny June release date.
So let's just imagine for a second that five years from now this film hasn't just disappeared into the flock of chick flicks as it seems destined to do. Let's say this movie becomes a cult phenomenon, with people arriving to midnight showing covering themselves in washcloths and wearing no more than headphones, people donning wedding gowns far too large in the chest for them, and Hispanics wearing thongs and dancing salaciously. People bring empty coffee cups and self-bound manuscripts to hurl at the screen, and the audience sings along to "It Takes Two" when the couple bonds over the story mentioning it. Sounds like a hilarious time at the cinema, right?
And yet, this is the sum total of the film as well. Sandra Bullock plays Margaret, an editor at a high level publishing company who we are supposed to believe it a complete ballbuster. She is designed to be very Devil Wears Prada Miranda Priestly, but played by Sandra Bullock, with all her cute Sandra Bullocky mannerisms and smiles. Only once the story shifts to Alaska does she seem right in the role, as the character has to soften up somewhat. But as far as tough, comedic nightmare boss, Bullock is wildly miscast.
If you've seen the trailer than the entirety of the plot shouldn't be a surprise. Margaret is Canadian and about to be deported so she forces her assistant Andrew (Ryan Reynolds) to marry her and therefore let her stay in the country and allow them both to keep their jobs. The immigration official in charge of this bogus union threatens them with jail and fines if they are lying, so they are off to Alaska to tell Andrew's family about the impending nuptials, and solidify the scam.
Andrew and Margaret have a clever little bantering relationship, even if he's supposed to absolutely loathe her prior to our entrance to the world of this film. This is completely unbelievable, given their interaction and quicky falling for each other which is predictable beyond words, but for the purpose of the film it works, in that it allows them both to make fun of each other and put them in situations the audience is supposed to giggle at.
Andrew's family in Alaska is rich, giving him some character development besides being hunky, as he's left the family business to grind through a career in NYC. He also left behind a girlfriend (Malin Akerman) and the disappointment of his father (Craig T. Nelson) who wants him to stay in Alaska and manage the empire. Oh, and Andrew's wacky grandmother (Betty White) is turning 90, and grabbing at Margaret's boobs for comic effect. Terrific stuff.
It's not a bad movie, it's just nothing special. There are some decent laughs - the on-the-spot made up story of Andrew's proposal to Margaret is very funny - and there are some cringe inducing sequences. Why Oscar Nunez (famous as Oscar from NBC's The Office) has so much screen time as a creepy exotic dancer and jack of all trades is strange. It's shocking to see him in particular dancing in a thong if you've seen his turn as a mild mannered accountant on television, but it quickly gets weird and goes on way too long.
As I said, Bullock isn't exactly right for the role, but the role evolves to work for her as the film progresses. It's good to see her in an all-out comedy again, as it's been sometime and she's a very gifted physical comedienne. For his part, Reynolds looks every bit the star of the future here, doing fine work with second billing. The last few years have shown Reynolds breaking out of being a cocky jokester (in crap like Van Wilder) and turning into a solid leading man (Definitely, Maybe is a great, different chick flick). Their interplay makes the film watchable, and keeps you interested, even if there are no surprises in store.
The supporting cast is good all around, given that they have to deal with largely one note, stock characters. Seeing a daffy old lady character act strangely was old years ago, but White gives it her all and manages to grab some laughs. Nelson and Mary Steenburgen are good as Andrew's parents, and Akerman isn't distractingly bad as his former girlfriend (I only say this because the last thing I saw her in - Watchmen - was held back somewhat by her distractingly bad acting).
The Proposal is a disposable summer comedy reminiscent of dozens of other genre pictures, and does little to add to the canon, but will you hate it? No, it's fun enough. Is it a must see? No, no, but there are worse ways to spend your time in a movie theater right now.
The Goatius Grade = 3.0
Other Sandra Bullock films: Miss Congeniality, Speed
Other Ryan Reynolds films: Adventureland, X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Other films currently in theaters:
Whatever Works
Up
Year One
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Away We Go
Angels & Demons
The Hangover
Star Trek
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
The Soloist
Monsters vs. Aliens
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Goatius
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 in Movies |
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Member: Joe
Location: Chicago, IL
Reviews written: 221
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About Me:
We will be knowingly undersold, and how
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