My fellow RomCom lovers I regret to inform you that The Proposal is no where near as good as you’ll want it to be. That’s not to say it’s crap, but simply if you (like me) view Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds as some sort of ultimate pairing, then you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. With all the pithy line delivery, slapstick skills and improvisational acumen between the two I expected a modern screwball match-up for the ages… which was really setting the bar too high.
Bullock plays against type as Margaret Tate, the boss from hell. It’s thrilling to watch her tear into a counterpart at the publishing house she works in, and a clever variation to make the female character so unapologetically difficult. Her young assistant Andrew (Reynolds) has given up on having a life, while maintaining the hope for a promotion. All this comes to a head when the Canadian Margaret is told she’s about to be deported. Clearly the only solution is a faux marriage … to her unwilling minion.
It’s an ingenious formula for RomCom hijinks to ensue, and they do, for a while. The unlikely duo bicker all the way over to the immigration department. Andrew, freed from the constraints of politeness and sensing he has the upper hand, begins to give as good as he gets. Here in Sandra and Ryan we have two comic equals with fabulous chemistry, clearly enjoying letting rip. The awkward fakery involved in maintaining the couple façade, becomes their toy to play with. Watch Bullock say the word ‘Alaska’ just as she realises what that word actually is. It’s a brilliant moment, and also you’ll probably recall, one of the highlights of the trailer.
At some point during the movie you begin to hope there are a few hidden gems that weren’t used in the advertising campaign. It’s always a sign of a film packed with brilliance when, no matter how much the marketers try, they can’t give everything away. I’m afraid that’s not the case here.
Margaret joins Andrew in a family visit for the weekend, hoping to legitimise their rather unlikely relationship for the government official who isn’t easily convinced. This is where the comedy should soar, but from this point onwards the whole thing feels roughly put together, undermining the flow. While Betty White lends her manic brilliance to proceedings as the slightly deranged matriarch of the family, the whole back half feels rushed and cobbled together. Margaret begins to soften, the taming of this shrew follows abruptly.
Bullock is impossible to dislike, which is what makes her casting in this role so pitch perfect. Reynolds has the rapid-fire, smart-ass delivery to give his downtrodden underling backbone despite his three years of slavery. It’s a hilarious concept, but nothing has been done with it. The set-up is half the fun, more needs to be done with the scenarios that follow, to raise the bar.
This belongs in the Miss Congeniality 2 basket. You’ll see it because you love Sandra, but you’ll feel slightly ripped off in the process (kind of like watching Two Weeks Notice). It’s easy, if slightly frustrating viewing that doesn’t require any further thought. Or a sequel.
