Search - The Proposal (Single Disc Widescreen) on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 10/15/2023...

Fun and entertaining storyline where common themes brought down its greatness.

Don K. from BEAVERTON, OR
Reviewed on 8/18/2013...

5 stars for comedy/entertainment value.

Good, solid fun. This is a highly entertaining and very well proportioned film. Everything works, but the best part is the comic timing...impeccable. Ryan Reynolds does comedy like he was born to it. Betty White was, of course, born to it. And Sandra Bullock is so cute, even when she's being a beeeatch, you'll want to see this again and again. And let's not forget the nude scene...these two are in shape. Wow! Add some beautiful scenery and a plot that is much cleverer than the critics would lead you to believe, and the results are a comic gem.

2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Coleen W. from ALPHARETTA, GA
Reviewed on 3/23/2011...

In a word, cute. It was a little predictable, but beautiful scenery and how can you not love Ryan and Sandra?

1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Lewis P. (Turfseer) from NEW YORK, NY
Reviewed on 8/12/2010...

Deluded masses fall for Bullock's 'straw man'

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

For those who haven't seen 'The Proposal', the plot is rather simple. Faced with being deported to her native Canada, publishing business career woman Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock), proposes to her assistant Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) that she marry him, in order to save her job and offer him a chance at promotion. The film has been compared to the 2009 dramedy 'The Devil Wears Prada'. Ostensibly, they both are about smug career women who are universally hated by their employees. But Meryl Streep's Miranda Priestly is a multi-dimensional portrait based on a real person and Sandra Bullock's 'Margaret Tate' is a dopey caricature.

Many internet posters have condemned 'The Proposal' for its predictability. Sure enough, Margaret Tate eventually comprehends the error of her ways and finally softens up; but it's what happens before the predicable ending (the 'softening up') that relegates the film to the trash heap.

There was a time when Sandra Bullock actually showed some talent as a comic actor. Consider Miss Congeniality—the film was humorous due to the cleverness of the fish out of water premise. Sandra's FBI agent character had to adapt in the prim and proper beauty pageant world. And we were attracted to Sandra since her character was realistically tough and confident.

Not so in 'The Proposal'. You would think that a tough as nails editor-in-chief would know how to handle herself, especially in the rarefied world of the Paxton family—both Tate and the Paxtons are quite well off. But no, Bullock plays Tate as a buffoon, someone to laugh at. Somehow, being in the more rural atmosphere of Sitka, Alaska, is supposed to turn Tate into a total klutz. Not only is she unable to efficiently move her luggage or climb down a ladder but she also can't swim! While Miranda Priestly was arrogant and sometimes petty, she also had an aura of competency that made her an attractive and interesting character. Until her sudden epiphanies toward the climax of 'The Proposal', Tate is completely petty and never shows any sign of competence. Take for example, the idiotic scene where the family dog is snatched by the eagle; eventually Tate saves the dog but she's more concerned about her cell phone, after the eagle flies away with it.

It's easy to understand why Bullock would be attracted to the 'straw man' character of Margaret Tate. As the dictionary tells us—a straw man is a "fabricated or conveniently weak or innocuous person, object, matter, etc., used as a seeming adversary or argument." The shrewd businesswoman that she is, Bullock realizes how the masses (the film going public) despise such characters as Tate, since most of us have encountered such arrogant people one time or another during our employment history. In reality, such people never realize the 'error' of their ways and usually are rewarded for their amoral behavior (take Miranda Priestly in 'The Devil Wears Prada' as the perfect example). Since the masses can't face reality, they would rather indulge in wish fulfillment by cheering on the comeuppance of a straw man. And that's exactly what Bullock has done here—provided a buffoon that the masses can sneer at—while she knows full well that a real tough as nails editor-in-chief would never be anything like a Margaret Tate who "hates shopping and sightseeing" and hasn't had sex for a year and a half!

Before 'The Proposal' gets all mushy with the failed marriage ceremony and Ryan Reynolds rushing back to NYC where he convinces Bullock that he's truly fallen in love with her, numerous bloggers and internet posters have taken note of many other unfunny scenes in 'The Proposal', that crop up before the sentimental denouement. A few that come to mind include: Bullock and Reynolds clumsily falling over each other while in the nude, Bullock being entertained by an amateur Hispanic 'Chippendale's' stripper and Betty White playing the grandmother dressed up as a Native American, performing a bizarre Native American dance for Bullock (followed by her equally bizarre hip hop dance in response).

Despite Ryan Reynold's sincere performance as Andrew Paxton, the character also doesn't make much sense. Paxton supposedly holds himself as being true to himself (as well as being an anti-materialist) when he rejects his father's demand to come back home and take over the family business. But at the same time, he's willing to compromise his values by accepting Tate's illegal (and immoral) proposal, in order to further his career.

Even if one's 'heart strings' are pulled by the sudden transformation of the lovers' affection for each other at the film's climax, the bulk of 'The Proposal' is 'comedy' of the lowest sort. And Bullock too has hit new lows by agreeing to be part of this enterprise. The next time around, she should look for more excellent screenplays. One is named "The Devil Wears Prada".

4 of 8 member(s) found this review helpful.

Xtra Info: Special Features

Lorelai | Texas | 09/19/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For some reason Amazon is not listing in Product Details what is actually included in the 2 disc DVD other than a movie description. So for those like me who like to know what Xtras (+ Digital Copy) you're getting here it is:



Alternate Ending

Deleted Scenes

Audio Commentary

Featurette

"Set Antics": Outtakes And Other Absurdities

Subtitles: French, Spanish

Disc Two: Digital Copy of Feature Film"

I DO (love this comedy)...

Shopper | USA | 09/13/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you have just survived another tough week at the office and are looking for a weekend pick me up, "The Proposal" is your sure bet. Yes, I laughed outloud often, and so did most of the audience. The comment frequently heard as the credits rolled was: "Ooohhh, that was sooo goooood!".



The story: a tough lady-boss (Bullock) is being deported to Canada for willful non-compliance with the US immigration department. To save herself, she directs her doormat of an assistant (Reynolds) to marry her. He reluctantly agrees to play along, after she "helps" him understand the virtues of being employed. If you think you know where this story is going... well, you are right. The "happily ever after" cannot be avoided. 'Tis a comedy after all...What is fresh is how skillfully the writers and the director allow the story to veer away from the "happily ever after" course, keeping us on the edge of our seats until the satisfying end, which we have known all along was bound to arrive.



The chemistry between the two leads is another pleasant surprise. I am not a particular fan of either Bullock or Reynolds. Though each smoking hot and talented, neither has made many inspired project choices. However, the roles here suit the pair's natural acting styles reasonably well, which in turn further enhances the believability of their characters. The look of constipated doom on Reynold's face, as he's being informed he's engaged, is side-splitting! I do regret Bullock does not play "mean" better; the intended juxtaposition of her supposedly tough as nails character against her overly compliant secretary is lost at times. We are TOLD she is a witchy boss, and yet she comes accross nothing more then efficient (Sandra: call me! I'll give you some pointers. In return you can teach me how to find a secretary as hot as Reynolds ;0) ).



Another gem in this comedy is Ms Betty White (of "The Golden Girls" fame), an octogenarian in real life as well as playing one in "The Proposal". She has made an art of delivering "campy" with emotional intelligence. She does not dissapoint here either.



Final verdict? Will this film change the course of modern cinematography?



Not a fat chance!



Did it chase my blah's away until Monday morning?



AFFIRMATIVE!!! ...Till Wednesday... at least!

"

Betcha can't watch this just once

J. Milligan | Florida | 10/02/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I saw this at the theatre 3 times. It is so funny. I was laughing out loud all through the movie. This is not a chick flick. Lots of men were in the theatre with me and they were laughing louder than me and my girlfriends. The acting doesn't get much better than this. The director has to be pleased with this one because these actors showed up knowing just what to do. Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds were so good together. Ryan was great even when he wasn't speaking. Just his facial expressions were hysterically funny. He also gave singing a try which was even funnier. Betty White played his grandmother and was as good as ever. Sandra and Ryan try hard not to like each other but it just didn't work. Sandra Bullock looks great. Girl can't help it, she is just too pretty. I don't write much about the story because it is described on the Amazon listing and I don't want to spoil anything. Go watch this movie. It is the comedy of the year. I like spontaneous type comedy and not fake made up comedy and The Proposal is just that. You will watch this movie over and over."