How to Watch: “The Proposal”

027-PPC-14846RStep 1: Know this: There are no original romantic comedies anymore – only original people in them. Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds make The Proposal a lot better than it ought to be.

Step 2: Don’t read much into this one. The Proposal is about as paint-by-numbers as it gets. Bullock plays Margaret Tate, a dragon lady senior editor at a publishing company, who pushes everyone around – particularly her beleaguered executive assistant, Andrew Paxton (Reynolds). Most days he wishes she’d get hit by a bus, or eaten by a tiger. And things get even worse when she discovers she is to be deported to her Canadian homeland and forces the poor chap to marry her so she can stay. But he turns the tables and forces HER into a deal – he’ll do it, only if she makes him an editor. If not, he’ll walk. Tough terms, Andy, tough terms.

Step 3: Refer to Step 2. They have to fall in love at some point or else the whole movie goes to crap (or would it?) The immigration Nazis are on their case, so Andrew must take Margaret to a family gathering on the Paxton estate in Alaska to prove their “love.” It seems the guy comes from some serious money and has been slumming it in New York as a lowly exec assistant, according to his stern father (Craig T. Nelson). Andrew’s fun-loving mom (Mary Steenburgen) and quippy 90-year-old Gammy (Betty White) just wish he’d visit more often. But the Paxton clan don’t know what to make of Margaret – until they announce they are getting married. Then the Paxton gates open and welcome old Mags in. Her ice-cold heart begins to melt …

Step 4: Remember casting is key in a romantic comedy, and thank goodness Bullock has decided to come back to the rom-com after a lengthy hiatus. She and Reynolds are spot on, especially when she’s being a queen bitch, and he is loathing her. Reynolds is just as cute as ever, and I have always loved his delivery. My favorite is when Andrew accuses Margaret of “snacking on children while they dream.” Things get a little more sappy once they start falling for each other, but that’s OK; it’s their job to try to make all the gooiest moments work. However, if they had had a seasoned director, instead of a first timer such as Anne Fletcher, it could have worked better.

Step 5: Gotta love Betty White! I hope Bullock took a few lessons from this grand dame of comedy. The best scene is Margaret getting jiggy with Gammy around a camp fire.

Level of difficulty in watching The Proposal: Moderately painless. Despite knowing where all the beats are, I enjoyed watching Sandy and Ryan get naked together.