The Proposal

Released: 2009
MPAA rating: PG-13
Run time: 1:48

It has taken me a week to even start writing the review because I simply don't know what to say about a movie that is so bland, formulaic and utterly predictable.  By now, you must be familiar with the premise:  Publishing exec Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) finds her work visa expired and faces deportation to Canada.  She comes up with the genius plan to pretty much force her personal assistant, Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds), to marry her so she can stay in the country and keep her job.  A better title might have been: "Sexual Harassment: Hey, it's not so bad if it involves two beautiful people!".  Most of the film is then spent on a trip to Alaska where they go to announce the engagement to his family, who insist they have the wedding that weekend right there in Alaska.  Of course, as movies like these go, the two of them start off the trip hating each other.  Hmm, wonder how that turns out.  Betty White almost steals the movie as Paxton's grandmother (I say almost because can you really "steal" a movie this bad?).  The movie ends pretty much exactly how you think it will end, making the audience all warm and fuzzy.  To be fair, I don't generally like "chick flicks", but do end up throwing one on now and again, usually to great disappointment.  Do I watch them to appease the wife? No, she actually hates them more than I do!!  The performances are good enough. It simply just brings nothing new or remotely interesting to the table.

Grade:  D

Trailer: