The Proposal (2009)

Directed by: Anne Fletcher | 108 minutes | comedy, romance | Actors: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson, Betty White, Denis OHare, Malin Akerman, Oscar Nunez, Aasif Mandvi, Niecy Nash, Michael Nouri, Michael Mosley, Maureen Keiler, Dale Place, Mini Anden, Alicia Hunt, Jerrell Lee

What is the ultimate solution if your application for permanent residency is rejected and you still want to stay in a country like the United States? Right, then you look for a ‘victim’ to marry! And who better to force you to do that than someone who is blackmailable?

Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) is an editor at a major publishing house in New York and is feared by her staff. She is businesslike, cold and ruthless when things don’t go the way she wants. This also applies when she is told that she has to leave the country (and therefore the company). On the spot, she devises a trick to get around that eviction: she just marries her personal assistant (read: slave) Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) And he just has to obey to play along with the story or she’ll fire him. At first, the ambitious Andrew is open-mouthed to hear everything, but soon comes up with a consideration: he wants promotion. Margaret realizes she has little choice and the deal is quickly made.

But the immigration officer is less likely to fall for this plan. He suspects fraud and offers Andrew a jail term if it turns out that it is indeed all fake. Until the wedding, he will therefore do everything in his power to unmask them. Andrew and Margaret, however, stand their ground. To back up their story, Margaret tells the officer that they’re even going to spend the weekend with Andrew’s parents for his grandmother’s birthday… in Alaska! There they will immediately inform the family of their upcoming wedding. And that will be a weekend full of lies and surprises!

Admittedly, the premise of the film is a bit far fetched. Because what idiot would be forced to marry the one he hates the most? But hey, what difference does it make with a romkom?! ‘The Proposal’ has become a topper in the genre in all respects. After making a romantic comedy that failed to impress (’27 Dresses’ (2008)) this time, director Anne Fletcher manages to rise above ground level. The story is fun and captivating from start to finish, the characters have enough depth and – very important – there is a lot to laugh about! This is mainly due to the impressive cast. Ryan Reynolds is perfect as the pretty boy next door, who visibly enjoys the awkward situations his bride-to-be finds herself in once they arrive in Alaska. Pure amusement! Sandra Bullock does what she does best: being (charmingly) clumsy and looking comically unhappy when she has to bite through a sour apple again. The best supporting role is for Betty White, who we mainly know from various TV series such as ‘The Golden Girls’ and ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’. As Andrew’s crazy grandmother, she can shock one minute with lewd comments, move the next, as when she tells Margaret the story of ‘the wedding necklace’. Doesn’t everyone want a grandma like that?

But coming back to Sandra Bullock: she finally reaches the level of ‘Miss Congeniality’ (2000) and ‘Two Weeks Notice’ (2002). And she could also use success after the debacle of ‘Premonition’ (2007). She still proves she can carry a rom-bowl, not least because of her charisma and great timing. Together with Reynolds she really makes ‘The Proposal’ a must see. The romantic comedy of the year? Absolute!