So, as a lady, I've seen my fair share of chick flicks. And fine, sometimes I swoon at the cheesy romances, irrational plots and predictable denouements. I'm only human, after all. But sometimes, angry feminist Darcie rears her head and I breathe fire on movies I thought might become guilty pleasures but instead piss me off (Bride Wars, I'm looking at you). And, even sometimes, I am quite bored by chick flick rom-coms altogether (ie anything starring Mandy Moore). The Proposal, starring the adorable/ageless Sandra Bullock and the sexy/dry-witted Ryan Reynolds, made me swoon, I must admit. Shh...just don't tell anyone.
Bullock is a Canadian ballbustin' book editor living in NYC on an expired visa. Rather than lose her job and get deported back to land of mounties (and, newly discovered fact, fries topped with gravy), she decides to force her assistant Drew (Reynolds) to marry her by blackmailing him with his dream job as editor. I guess a sexual harassment lawsuit wouldn't have made for a cute movie?
In order to convince the pesky immigration officer they're in love, the faux couple head to Drew's hometown in Alaska for grandma's 90th bday and to learn more about each other. Cue standard Bullock slapstick, Reynolds' obligatory ab shot, some make-cute scenes where the two protagonists' hearts thaw, and you have yourself a good ol' fashioned romantic comedy.
Okay, so it's predictable as hell. Fine, as a woman I'm a little insulted that to get ahead as a businesswoman, you have to be a big, fat biotch. Whatever. The Proposal is still all sorts of adorable. And so what if I laughed when Reynolds sang super high pitched to "It takes two...?" Let's see you not succumb to the Reynolds/Bullock combined charm.
And that's the kicker here, folks. Sure, The Proposal is formulaic, but it works because it has a cuter than cute cast that works well together. Bullock is still America's Sweetheart, only slightly bitchier. Reynolds pulls out his "aw shucks" everyman humor (and an ass you can bounce a roll of quarters off of). Even Betty White, Craig T. Nelson and Mary Steenburgen still have the goods.
The Proposal ain't out to change cinema. But it will lend for a good hour and a half. The chemistry between Bullock and Reynolds is undeniable, and even the supporting cast (especially Oscar Nuñez from The Office as an Alaskan exotic dancer) make good on their charms and good nature.
This romantic comedy might not be THE ONE, but it's a pretty awesome one night stand.
--Darcie Duttweiler
In order to convince the pesky immigration officer they're in love, the faux couple head to Drew's hometown in Alaska for grandma's 90th bday and to learn more about each other. Cue standard Bullock slapstick, Reynolds' obligatory ab shot, some make-cute scenes where the two protagonists' hearts thaw, and you have yourself a good ol' fashioned romantic comedy.
Okay, so it's predictable as hell. Fine, as a woman I'm a little insulted that to get ahead as a businesswoman, you have to be a big, fat biotch. Whatever. The Proposal is still all sorts of adorable. And so what if I laughed when Reynolds sang super high pitched to "It takes two...?" Let's see you not succumb to the Reynolds/Bullock combined charm.
And that's the kicker here, folks. Sure, The Proposal is formulaic, but it works because it has a cuter than cute cast that works well together. Bullock is still America's Sweetheart, only slightly bitchier. Reynolds pulls out his "aw shucks" everyman humor (and an ass you can bounce a roll of quarters off of). Even Betty White, Craig T. Nelson and Mary Steenburgen still have the goods.
The Proposal ain't out to change cinema. But it will lend for a good hour and a half. The chemistry between Bullock and Reynolds is undeniable, and even the supporting cast (especially Oscar Nuñez from The Office as an Alaskan exotic dancer) make good on their charms and good nature.
This romantic comedy might not be THE ONE, but it's a pretty awesome one night stand.
--Darcie Duttweiler
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