The Proposal *** (2009, Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Mary Steenburgen, Denis O’Hare, Craig T Nelson, Betty White) – Classic Movie Review 3833

It’s a stretch to believe in Sandra Bullock as a bitchy, pushy, control-freak boss – but that’s what she’s playing in director Anne Fletcher’s otherwise typical 2009 Sandra romcom. That is so obviously the fake Sandra that acting her is a bit tricky for Ms Bullock. But, when the character finally mellows, she is the real Sandra we know and love, and all is well again.

Ryan Reynolds, on the other hand, so often cast in unappealingly smarmy or loudmouth roles, makes a lovely job of the film’s sweet role as book publishing editor-in-chief Sandra’s considerably younger assistant. She forces him to get engaged to her – she’s Canadian (another hard a stretch to believe in) – to keep her visa status in the US and avoid deportation to her homeland.

The duo are dogged by a stereotypical immigration official (not at all well played by Denis O’Hare, who seems to think that he is in a Disney farcical comedy) as they head for Sandra’s delightfully eccentric folks in Alaska – scatty mom Mary Steenburgen, grumpy dad Craig T Nelson and crazy grannie Betty White.

Grannie is coming up to 80, so she suggests a joint celebration – her birthday and Sandra’s wedding to Ryan. Now – you guessed it – the duo are horrified, but go through the motions with the family and having, gosh, to share a bedroom, falling in love for real along the way. But then…

Sandra performs the city girl fish-out-of-water comedy perfectly – it may not be subtle but it’s great. Ryan’s a real charmer, funny and appealing. There’s plenty for Golden Girl White to do, and that’s good, too, though alas the admirable Steenburgen is just there, stranded without a proper part.

Despite a few saucy trimmings (Sandra bumps into Ryan as she comes out of the shower having forgotten her towel), writer Peter Chiarelli’s movie is as relentlessly old-fashioned as it is amusing. So feminists and blokes will probably hate it.

But perhaps its only real problem is, in its effort to give great value, that it seems to go on for far too long (though it is only 108 minutes), with any number of false endings. But, there again, those after Sandra full throttle will be in heaven.

Ironically, Reynolds is a real Canadian, born on October 23 1976 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, whereas Bullock was born in Arlington, a Virginia suburb of Washington.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3833

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com