[Movies] The Proposal (2009)

I'm really not big on romantic comedies and I only really tend to watch them if (1) a friend or family member wants to watch it or (2) I think of the male actors involved is really hot and I'll risk my sanity in the name of the possibility of gratuitous nudity. I know, lousy reasons for sure but they definitely help keep things in balance.

This has resulted in me catching a few romantic comedies that turned out a lot better than I expected while still many others that I shall sadly be unable to forget ever, ever again. What can I say - it's really just not my genre. Then again you get actors who pretty much embody walking porn like Ryan Reynolds involved in the project and you know that I'll still take the time out to catch it in the theater despite my better judgment. I mean come on, it's Ryan Reynolds! Yum! LOL

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The Proposal is a surprisingly decent romantic comedy that didn't have me feeling like I lost a few IQ points. The story follows the Boss From Hell Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) who has blackmailed her assistant Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) into marrying her so she won't be deported given her expired US Visa - in the movie she's Candadian. As part of the proceedings, she and Andrew fly off to meet his family in Alaska in preparation for the eventual INS interview the next week and she's surprised to discover there's a lot more to him and his family than she initially assumed.

I have to admit that I enjoyed this film a lot - probably a large part of that can be attributed to the lively performance done by Betty White (of the Golden Girls fame) who played Andrew's grandmother in the movie. Regardless of her age, Betty White went on to show everyone that she's not someone you can count out just yet and she really knows how to pull off good comedy.

The story as well wasn't too bad. I liked how the writers managed to establish things in a way that still made sense to the viewers and also it made sure the characters had actual substance and value given their back stories. The decision to make Andrew's family rather well established in Alaska was brilliant since it added a completely different element to things and it made sure that there was an actual balance of power between Margaret and Andrew despite the pre-existing boss-subordinate relationship between the two of them.

Of course the real "meat" of the movie was that one gratuitous nudity scene not just for Ryan Reynolds but for Sandra Bullock as well that just went to prove (1) I can never get enough of a pretty much naked Ryan Reynolds, (2) rich kids like to strip at random on their balconies and (3) Sandra Bullock looks pretty darned good for her age (no offense meant!) Oh yes, I'd love to watch that sequence over and over again in slow motion or something.

As a whole, it's a rather pleasant experience and it ends up being a nice and light way to relax and get away from the stresses of daily life. The story has just enough substance to make it worthwhile but not too much that it stops being fun.

The Proposal gets 4 Baby Makers out of a possible 5.