Blu-ray review: The Proposal

We’ve all had bosses we’ve hated.  Imagine for one moment that the worst boss you’ve ever had was about to get deported.  Yay! 

Wait, though.  Before you start popping champagne bottles and turning your office into a disco, the soon-to-be-departed boss lets you know that you’ll likely be fired or replaced once the new boss takes over. 

The only solution is to marry this person so she can keep her VISA and preserve your job; the job for the boss you hate.  It sounds a bit far fetched and little corny, but that’s exactly what happens in “The Proposal.”

Ryan Reynolds is Andrew, the lowly secretary who slaves himself for Margaret, a high-powered book editor more concerned with getting her authors guest slots with Oprah than treating her employees like human beings.  Always on her toes, Margaret (Sandra Bullock) hatches up the scheme on a whim when the publishing company executive tells her she’s about to be deported. 

Now, instead of a nice weekend reunion with his parents in Alaska, Andrew has to bring Margaret home and convince them and the ever-stalking immigration agent that their love and marriage are legitimate.

Reynolds and Bullock actually make a pretty good pair.  The youthful enthusiasm we’re used to seeing from Reynolds is downplayed and brow-beaten by Bullock’s corporate overlord.  She’s frighteningly convincing as the work-first, have a life later witch and you just have to wonder how it is these two are going to find any type of common ground.

Director Anne Fletcher (27 Dresses) and writer Peter Chiarelli have turned a ridiculous premise into a decently funny film.  Despite having a contentious on-screen relationship, Reynolds and Bullock have some chemistry and make their (adversarial) relationship work.  Their back and forth bickering leads to effective comedy more often than not and they are helped by a strong supporting cast. 

Craig T. Nelson, Mary Steenburgen, Betty White, Malin Ackerman (Watchmen) and Oscar Nunez from “The Office” (you’ll never think of him the same way again) are all solid, but tend to vary from the realistic and grounded (Nelson, Steenburgen and Ackerman) to the outlandish (White and Nunez).  So, while I was entertained, the characters in this movie are all over the place. 

Ackerman in particular could have used more screen time.  She plays Andrew’s high school sweetheart and her major scene was cut from the film.  I would have liked to have seen her character developed more because there was a real opportunity for her to shake up the story a bit.   Instead, the film trudges on to the inevitable ending.

So, let’s talk about the ending for a moment.  Without revealing anything, the film sets up two very different choices for Andrew, but one is never really explored.  Instead, the movie goes right where you expect it to and I sat there thinking, “you’ve got to me kidding me.”  While I was thinking that, my wife was sitting right next to me with tears in her eyes.  So I guess your gender or your suspension of disbelief will determine how this movie plays out for you.  I personally found the ending unbelievable, needlessly heavy and fairly unsatisfying.  A lot of people might disagree, but I just wasn’t buying it. 

“The Proposal” does have a lot of laughs and while some of the comedy is over-the-top, this isn’t exactly what you’d call groundbreaking entertainment.  It’ll make you laugh, you might cry and then you’ll forget about it.  I’ll recommend it, but say that this one is strictly a rental.

Rated PG-13
For Sexual Content, Nudity and Language

3 out of 5

The Blu-ray disc

As a new film, “The Proposal” should look good in high definition and it does.  It’s a bright film and while picture and audio are mostly irrelevant for this type of film, rest assured, the technical aspects are good.  I’m not sure it’s worth an upgrade from a standard DVD, but if you’re a Blu-ray snob, then knock yourself out.

The other selling feature for Blu-ray is extensive bonus features, but sadly that’s not the case here.  The disc comes with a standard audio commentary from the director and writer along with three short deleted scenes, an alternate ending that is even sillier than the one they went with and a short reel of bloopers and screwing around.

This isn’t a disc you’ll be buying for supplements as Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds are nowhere to found.  There isn’t even a making-of or behind-the-scenes feature.  You do get the digital copy so you can watch “The Proposal” on your computer or portable device, but how many people are going to do that?

Bonus Features rating
1.5 out of 5

Tony Robinson is a past host of KATU's Movie Guys film review segment and currently reviews movies exclusively for KATU.com. He lives in Portland with his wife, son and action figure collection. He can be reached at tonerobe@hotmail.com.