Anne Fletcher’s “The Proposal” Sure To Garner Laughs

The theme of Anne Fletcher’s “The Proposal” doesn’t break any new ground (another terrific film about a marriage ‘of convenience’ to stay in America was “Green Card”, a few years back), but this ‘take’ has the benefit of two of the most attractive, likable stars around, Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, some genuinely witty dialogue, and the beautiful Boston North Shore (substituting for Simka, Alaska). The result is a film that will leave you with a smile and a desire to cuddle, so watch it with someone you love!

In a savvy modern gender reversal, Bullock is a brilliant, if ruthless Canadian book editor, and Reynolds is her long-suffering, but efficient secretary, forced into posing as ‘engaged’ when she is about to be deported. The pair so obviously are mismatched (by age…she is over a decade older…by temperment, and the fact they can’t seem to agree on anything about their past), that the ‘Elliot Ness’ of Immigration (Denis O’Hare, in a funny turn), gives them just three days (spent at his family’s home in Simka, celebrating Granny’s 90th birthday), before his interview will send Bullock back to Canada, and Reynolds to prison.

In Simka, the film really hits it’s stride, as we are introduced to the fabulous Betty White (as a very spry nonogenarian) and her cute (and very put-upon) puppy, Craig T. Nelson and (a woefully underused) Mary Steenburgen as his parents, (woefully overused) Oscar Nuñez as the local ‘jack-of-all-trades’, and Malin Akerman as Reynolds’ ex-girlfriend. While some situations are expected, under the circumstances (a shared bedroom and accidental nude…VERY nude…encounter, and a ‘baby maker’ quilt that always seems to be a prop in films involving ethnic cultures), we also get to really know the quiet Reynolds (who is a gifted writer struggling against a father who had already blueprinted his entire life), and the reason for Bullock’s attitude (living on her own since a teen, and overachieving to compensate for a lack of love). While the frequent moments of slapstick are hilarious (the poor dog, a hungry eagle, and panic-stricken Bullock’s stolen cellphone is a high point), the character development gives the film ‘heart’, and makes the growing affection between the pair not only believable, but something to cheer about.

In this kind of film, you KNOW everything will turn out alright (what kind of date movie would it be, if it didn’t?), but there are a few novel twists to keep things interesting!

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