I actually saw a special advanced screening of this film two months ago at ShoWest but the all mighty studio embargo prohibited me from writing an early review. Since the film's release is right around the corner, I thought I'd go ahead and throw one together.

The Proposal offers up an easy to digest scenario. Sandra Bullock plays Margaret Tate, a shrew of a book editor who gets what she wants, when she wants. Miss demanding finds herself in the hot seat however, when she discovers that she'll be deported back to her native Canada unless...she gets married. Enter Andrew Paxton (played by Ryan Reynolds), Tate's loyal assistant. Truth be told, Andrew can't stand his boss, but if he's ever going to have a shot at getting his book published, he'll have to play ball. In typical sitcom fashion, a deal is struck and the zany antics ensue. Faster than you can say; "Fish out of water", Andrew drags Margaret to his home town so that he might convince his family that they really are in love, thereby convincing an overzealous INS official that the marriage is not just an arrangement of convenience.

You can guess what happens from there. There's nothing particularly original about The Proposal. This formulaic routine has been done to death in countless romantic comedies. The thing is, for films of this nature to work, there has to be good comic timing and chemistry between the leads.

For the most part, Bullock and Reynolds make a fairly entertaining on screen couple. This despite the fact that Bullock is twelve years Reynolds' senior. Bullock actually plays against type here. Usually, she's the cute girl next door type. Here, she's the bitch next door type. Meanwhile, Reynolds takes the subtle route making you all but forget he's the same guy who played Van Wilder.

The comical situations tend to get a little absurd, as is often the case in films of this nature, but some of the gags are actually kind of funny. As stupid as it is, the bit in which a naked Bullock inadvertently falls on top of a naked Reynolds, works surprisingly well, still many of the events that lead to the payoff are incredibly forced. Though I could understand if fans of the rom-com might disagree.

The Proposal is what it is. It's silly and labored, but it does have moments of undeniable charm and heart and it also has the lovely Betty White, who is always a comic wild card. This wily veteran pretty much lights up the screen every time she's in the frame. Maybe my expectations were low, or maybe it was because I watched this film with my wife on our fifteenth anniversary. Whatever the case may be, The Proposal didn't suck.