The Proposal is about Margaret Tate, a stern, overpowering book editor, and Andrew Paxton, her overworked and underpaid assistant. When Margaret is threatened with deportation back to Canada on the ground that her visa had expired, she pressures Andrew into a fake engagement so she can stay in the United States legally. Andrew agrees but demands a promotion. The two of them head to Andrew’s hometown in Alaska, where Andrews’s family is pressuring them to make their engagement into an actual wedding as quickly as possible. As Margaret and Andrew struggle to act like a real couple, their interactions are awkward, under family pressure, and emotionally causing them to doubt whether their relationship is in fact only fake.
The best element of the film is the acting. Sandra Bullock does a wonderful job of making Margaret very confident and icy at the beginning, yet gradually more vulnerable and clumsy. Ryan Reynolds on the other hand gives Andrew a very quick witted, playful sense of humor, which creates an interesting dynamic of humorous contrast between two main characters. The on screen chemistry between Bullock and Reynolds gives the film credibility even when the story becomes highly improbable. Notable supporting actors include Betty White (as Andrew’s grandmother), who provides a lot of comic relief, especially in the sequences involving the family’s traditions.
The setting of Alaska was also a highly visually pleasing aspect of the film. Although the film was shot in Massachusetts, the lighting and colors were used to make the town appear as warm and inviting as possible. This contrasted well with the closed off personality Margaret had at the start of the film. The film does have a lighthearted and comedic tone, but it still had very true feeling moments as the characters developed a better understanding of each other. The sound track was minimal, but it still fit within the aesthetic of a romantic comedy, while adding both to the sillier scenes as well as more sentimental ones. A scene that specifically stood out was the bonding of Margaret with Andrew’s family around the campfire as she is finally able to let her guard down.
In summary, The Proposal is a sweet, humorous romantic comedy that balances laughs with character growth. The film is predictable in places, but the solid acting, the relatable setting, and the witty one liners make it a worthwhile watch. If you are looking for a feel good film with some relatable characters and lots of laughs, The Proposal is a movie I would highly recommend.
