The Proposal (Rhoades)

“The Proposal” Reinforces Our Fantasies About Life

Reviewed by Shirrel Rhoades

Having been married three times, I’ve had a lot of practice at proposing. Luckily, third time’s the charm. This year my wife and I mark our 27th anniversary.

Besides, she says I’ve used up my quota.

Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds get engaged in “The Proposal,” the romantic comedy that’s playing at the Tropic Cinema. Or should I call it a non-romantic comedy? Because it’s an engagement of convenience, not love.

At least in the beginning.

Seems Bullock is a Canadian citizen with a high-powered publishing job in the US. But when our gal learns that she might get deported back to those cold climes, she forces her male assistant to claim that they’re getting married.

Talk about harassment in the workplace.

This high concept movie was probably pitched to the studio as “Green Card” meets “The Wedding Date.”

The fun begins when Reynolds takes her home to meet his folks. Mom and dad (Mary Steenburgen and Craig T. Nelson) are thrilled. They even let them share a room. A room with one bed and one bath. Gulp!

Here’s a couple of co-workers who have barely shared a pencil sharpener before, forced to pretend they’re soul mates. But you guessed it: Keeping up the façade of True Love leads to … True Love.

Sure, I’m giving away the ending, but – admit it – you knew this mismatched twosome was going to wind up together before you even bought your ticket.

Formula movies offer us a certain sense of reassurance that the universe is in its proper order. The promise of things turning out all right. That Living Happily Ever After can actually come true … at least, up there on the silver screen.

Ah, the stuff that dreams are made of.

srhoades@aol.com
[from Solares Hill]