Sunday, June 21, 2009
A+E, Movies, Reviews

‘The Proposal’ is acceptable, if unexceptional

A ShortTakes review

In nearly a decade since “Miss Congeniality,” we’ve forgotten what an excellent comedienne Sandra Bullock can be. “The Proposal” is at least worthy of what she does to improve it. Her co-star, Ryan Reynolds, is also better in romantic comedies than most of his movies have let him show. He’s 12 years Bullock’s junior, but they have the chemistry of a credible couple.

Margaret Tate (Bullock) is editor-in-chief at a publishing company, where aspiring author Andrew Paxton (Reynolds) has been her assistant for three years. Tate is supposed to be as fearsome as Meryl Streep in “The Devil Wears Prada,” but Bullock lacks Streep’s ability to cut diamonds with her eyes. No matter: After a few minutes, the power dynamic between them changes. Margaret is a Canadian with visa problems who’s about to be deported. Since Andrew does as he’s told, she tells him to marry her.

Andrew’s parents (Mary Steenburgen and Craig T. Nelson) are celebrating his grandmother’s (Betty White) 90th birthday in Sitka, Alaska—the perfect time to introduce his fiancée. It’s also a chance for Margaret to learn about Andrew, whom she’s always taken for granted, so she can pass the immigration test. Since “The Proposal” uses the old “pretending to be in love leads to being in love” plot, their coupling takes its time, but it’s never in doubt.

The two stars look good in and out of their clothes and have expert comic timing. “The Proposal” isn’t a movie you’ll be talking about years, or even months, from now. But it shows that the Hollywood assembly line can still occasionally crank out a good crowd-pleaser. 2.5 STARS—Steve Warren