DVD
REVIEW: THE PROPOSAL
10/11/09
OVERVIEW:
Corporate ambition makes for strange bedfellows
when a hard-nosed executive talks her overworked assistant into a marriage of convenience in
The Proposal, arriving on Blu-ray Hi-Def and DVD on October 13, 2009 from Buena Vista
Home Entertainment. A contemporary romantic comedy from director Anne Fletcher (27
Dresses), The Proposal is available in Two-Disc Blu-ray Hi-Def and DVD editions, as well as
Single-Disc DVD and Blu-ray editions. Bonus features include filmmaker commentary,
bloopers and a hilarious alternate ending. Both Two-Disc DVD and Blu-ray versions also
include a Digital Copy of the movie that can be viewed on an array of
electronic devices. Sandra Bullock (The Lake House) and Ryan Reynolds (Adventureland) match comedic wits as
the ultimate odd couple in the year’s most hilarious and offbeat love story.
SYNOPSIS: Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) terrorizes her publishing house co-workers with her abrasive, take-no-prisoners management style, especially her overworked assistant Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds). But when Margaret is threatened with deportation to her native Canada because of an immigration technicality, the quick-thinking exec announces that she and Andrew are engaged to be married. Ambitious Andrew agrees to go along with her scheme—if there’s a long-awaited promotion in it for him. Everything is going according to Margaret’s plan, until an overzealous immigration official makes it his business to prove that the couple’s engagement is bogus. To demonstrate her commitment to her new fiancé, Margaret agrees to celebrate the 90th birthday of his colorful grandmother (Betty White) — in Alaska. The editrix’s type-A ways put her at odds with her eccentric future in-laws with hilarious consequences, until the Paxtons teach Margaret a thing or two about family.
FILM REVIEW: Guilty as
charged! Yes, I’m guilty of thoroughly enjoying another
romantic comedy. They come and go and they are a dime a dozen.
Some are good while others are better so you just got to take
your chances. I honestly had a lot of fun watching this one.
I’ll admit that I’m a fan of both Sandra Bullock and Ryan
Reynolds so maybe there is some bias but regardless, a good part
of the success of a romantic comedy is the story and how fresh
it is. Well this story was pretty interesting and pretty modern
and fresh too. It starts out very fast paced and it is funny
throughout. There is plenty of sarcasm throughout as well. But
this movie has more to offer than just a good story. Add on a
stellar cast chock full of sharp comedic performances and some
of the most breathtaking backdrops and locations ever used for a
movie of this genre and you’ve got an incredibly charming
piece of work.
Sandra plays Margaret, the royal bitch boss and I do mean royal
and I do mean bitch. She is dry, sarcastic, mean, self-centered
and emotionless. Her world is rocked when a particular
predicament unfolds before her. In comes Ryan as Andrew. He is
the persistent assistant that somehow manages to put up with
Margaret’s ways. It is great to see how Sandra hasn’t lost
her touch in the comedy arena. She can still deliver in both
physical and verbal comedy as well as in character presentation.
Even though it is starting to show a little that she is not
getting any younger, she still looks mighty good (if you see the
movie you will know what I mean). Ryan is, well, he’s Ryan.
Even when he is not at his best I still enjoy watching him
perform. In this movie he gives us one of the best blank faces
of utter shock and disbelief that you will ever see. That scene
was priceless. The chemistry between them is really a little
awkward but then again it should be. It makes the story a bit
more realistic if they don’t match up so perfectly. Now the
banter between them on the other hand is entertaining to say the
least. The question is can the rigid shell be cracked? But wait,
there’s bonus cast too. You’ve got Mary Steenburgen and
Craig T. Nelson playing Andrew’s parents and Betty White
playing his grandmother. Oh Betty White, that woman is something
else. You can only wish you had a grandmother like her. She
strongly contributes to the overall comedy of this picture.
Oscar Nunez plays a role that is the source of quite of few
laughs too. What a character!
One of the aspects that impressed me the most about this film
was the beautiful locations and scenery. A chunk of the story
takes place in Alaska and the backdrops they used were
wonderful. It added to the freshness and gave it an extra edge.
This is only Anne Fletcher’s third major motion picture
direction (27 Dresses, Step Up) and I think she is doing pretty
good for herself. In the midst of the summer blockbusters,
it’s always nice to have an alternative and this is a good
alternative to choose.
Film Review By Cine Marcos
cinemarcos@smartcine.com
VIDEO:
Widescreen 2.35.1 [16:9 Transfer]
AUDIO:
English Spanish French 5.1 Dolby Digital
Subtitles - English Spanish French
BONUS FEATURES:
Set Antics: Outtakes and Other Absurdities From The Proposal — Bloopers and
light moments on set with the cast and crew of The Proposal
Deleted Scenes
Audio Commentary by director Anne Fletcher and writer Peter Chiarelli
Alternate Ending
RATING BREAK DOWN:
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