MovieSet Dailies

By Jeff Otto

The Movie: The Proposal

Synopsis: A boss from hell forces her lowly assistant to marry her so she can avoid deportation.

Stars: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson, Betty White, Oscar Nunez

Written by: Pete Chiarelli

Directed by: Anne Fletcher

Distributed by: Buena Vista Pictures

Opening on: June 19th, 2009

EXPECTATIONS

What I’d Seen – I always try to go into movies with an open mind, but I can’t deny the fact that high concept romantic comedies have become my least favorite genre. I can enjoy the genre when its done well, such as When Harry Met Sally or even How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, but this genre has seen enough watered down material to make the Pauly Shore filmography look downright respectable by comparison. On top of that, the trailers for The Proposal looked nauseating. Still, Ryan Reynolds can be amusing at times and Betty White is always fun in her cooky old lady roles.

What I’d Heard – Not much aside from the plot setup, the generally respectable cast list the fact that the director’s previous work included 27 Dresses and Step Up.

What I Wanted – Enough chemistry between the leads to make me forget my initial hesitations. I was also looking forward to the aforementioned comic relief from White as well as The Office’s Oscar Nunez.

EXPERIENCE

What Turned Me On – Betty White can play a part like this in her sleep. She doesn’t have any material as out there as her unforgettable potty mouth shockers of Lake Placid, but she does have her moments, such as dancing to rap music in a full Indian headdress and assorted salty old lady inappropriate remarks. As much as I like Nunez on The Office, his comic relief often feels forced here. Still, there’s no denying the humor in watching Nunez strip down to a Chippendale black thong and give Betty White a lap dance.

What Turned Me Off - As with many other high concept romcoms, the most interesting characters aren’t the leads. And that’s a problem when the they occupy so many frames of film. Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds just aren’t believable as a couple. I can buy that they hate each other, as they do in the beginning, but buying into their budding romance through the development of these absurd circumstances is a tough pill to swallow. They have zero chemistry and Bullock pulls off shrill much better than cute these days.

AFTERMATH

I Left Thinking - Its a weird trend for romcom writers and directors to focus so heavily on the comic relief characters. In The Proposal, its at the expense of the focal characters and core story.

I Left Saying – Another blight on one of the dodgiest genres since the courtroom thrillers of the early ’90s. Where, oh where, are Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn when you need them?

Expiry Date – This one won’t stick in people’s minds as long as an episode of Must See TV. Whatever we call entertainment more disposable than a popcorn movie, that’s what this is. You might find more to like about it then I did, but it will disappear from your mind with welcome immediacy.

More of The Proposal

Check out more photos and videos from The Proposal

The Proposal News

• RYAN REYNOLDS Manhood popped out on movie set
• Ryan Reynolds Threw Caution to The Wind For New Movie
• Sandra Bullock: ‘The Proposal’ Needed My Nudity
• Ryan Reynolds on Sandra Bullock as a Boss & ‘X-Men’ Spinoff News!

Author: grip