The Proposal

Directed By -
Anne Fletcher

Cast-
Sandra Bullock (Margaret Tate), Ryan Reynolds (Andrew Paxton), Mary Steenburgen (Grace Paxton), Craig T. Nelson (Joe Paxton), Betty White (Grandma Annie), Malin Akerman (Gertrude), Oscar Nunez (Ramone).

We’ve all had to deal with our share of mean bosses and here is one straight out of hell, bad enough for her assistant to beg his colleague for a shirt when he soils his own.

In walks a very ‘devil wears prada’-esque boss, Margaret, played by Sandra Bullock. Preceding her entry to the office is a flurry of scurrying employees and a lot of instant messages informing everyone that “it” has arrived. The “it” in question not particularly showing her mean side to anyone but the harassed assistant, Andrew, played by Ryan Reynolds.

Predictably a situation arises from which only Andrew can rescue the witch and a whole load of some funny and some very not funny drama ensues. The funny bits being overshadowed by the non-funny parts.

Margaret, a Canadian citizen living in the US needs to be saved from deportation, hence Andrew placing his own terms and conditions agrees to be her fake fiancé, this is followed by a hilarious trip to his hometown in Alaska where the Jimmy Choo and Prada wearing Margaret is humbled and is taught the value of family and relationships.

Andrew turns out to be a millionaire and is the heir to the family business, now follows some serious Hindi movie style drama with his father black-mailing him quite unsuccessfully into coming back to Alaska and taking over the business. At the same time there is apparently romance brewing between Andrew and Margaret that no one including themselves can see.

A lot of very predictable situations , which bring to mind movies like Ramji Londonwaley and Meet the parents and just about any other rom-com ever made, skipping forward comes the day for the cute grandma Annie’s 90th birthday, she says she wants to see her grandson get married before she dies, hence dump the birthday celebrations, there’s a wedding to take place.

In all the predictability come very few truly funny moments which is a disappointment coming from a Sandra Bullock movie who sadly enough is in an absolutely non-comedic role. What Sandra does best in the movie is, look absolutely ravishing , at 40 she is in absolutely great shape which she does not fail to show off in a highly unnatural and predictable scene with an equally undressed Ryan, who also, I must say is in great shape.

The movie basically has all the typical elements, the cute grandma, the rich short-tempered father, the loving mother, the sugar coated sweetheart ex-girlfriend, the couple that hates each other(but is actually in love), and a crazy multi tasking stripper cum salesman cum priest.

This romantic comedy was not romantic, mildly funny, and very predictable and I must say, all in all quite a disappointment. Being a member of the female population of our species, I can say this movie was anything but a chick flick, definitely not a drama or thriller. Then what was it? Well go ahead watch it yourself and find out.

Reviewed By,
Taru Girdonia