Proposal, The

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The Proposal

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Director

Anne Fletcher

Starring

Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Malin Akerman, Craig T. Nelson, Mary Steenburgen, Denis O'Hare, Betty White

Producer

runtime

108 mins

language

English

Prequels

Sequels

Taglines:

• Here comes the bribe...

Synopsis

A pushy boss forces her young assistant to marry her in order to keep her Visa status in the U.S. and avoid deportation to Canada.

Review

To be honest it was obvious that regardless of how this film turned out I was going to at least enjoy Ryan Reynolds' performance in it. Sandra Bullock has never really impressed me, so that would be the only failing point in the rom-com. The plot is generic (two people so very different are thrown together by cicumstance, but find over time that they have much more in common as their defenses break down), and is totally predictable, but I was not actually expecting to enjoy it quite as much as I did!

Proposal is one of those films which is sold as a 'chick-flick' but actually plays to both sexes equally. The chemistry between Reynolds and Bullock is non existant at the start of the film, but build gradually over the running time to a believable outcome by the end. The two stars play against each other well, and the banter and exchanges are amusing and entertaining, and also deliver elements of emotion when called for. Subtle touches in direction, many of which will not be even noticed, lend well to scenes. One such 'trick' is used when the pair are chatting about their lives, with cuts between the two. Bullock is shown to the far left of the screen in her cut, and Reynolds to the far right. As they begin to connect the camera moves on both cuts to slowly move Bullock to the right and Reynolds to the left, effectively (in the mind's eye) bringing the characters closer together visually. A simple trick, but effectively used.

Proposal is a charming and funny rom-com, and makes for an ideal date movie.

Trivia

• Sandra Bullock plays a Canadian who wants to marry her assistant (Ryan Reynolds) in order to keep her Visa status in the U.S. and avoid deportation to Canada. In real life, Reynolds is from Canada and Bullock is American.
• Nowhere does it list Alaska as an actual film location. The film was actually filmed in Boston and on Boston's North Shore. In one of the scenes, you can see the famous Rockport icon, "Motif No.1", the little red shack famous for being a subject of many famous painters' and photographers' work. Snow-capped mountains (or any mountains, for that matter) are nowhere to be found on the North Shore. Those were added in digitally.
• Julia Roberts was the first choice to play Margaret, but reportedly refused to take a pay cut, so Sandra Bullock took over the role.

External links

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