We've reviewed films that shoot Boston-for-New York, Boston-for-Paris, Burlington-for-New Jersey... but here's a rare first: Gloucester, Massachusetts filmed to look like Sitka, Alaska.Huh.
When you watch, "The Proposal", you don't recognize the backdrop as Massachusetts, for one key reason: Digitally added snow-capped mountains and glaciers. The VFX work was done by local post-production company, Brick Yard, and it's flawless. Well done, on with the review!
Sandra Bullock kicks off "The Proposal" by entering her NYC publishing company as her employees dive for cover: the same entrance, though not quite as effective, as in "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Working Girl". Fine, we get it, this establishes her as the bitchy boss (but not really -- has Sandra ever been bitchy?). Her underling, everyman's actor Ryan Reynolds, obediently fulfills her every whim... often while grumbling. This includes the title "proposal"; she forces a ridiculous marriage upon him to keep her US work visa. Now the pair must go to his hometown in Alaska to tell his parents.
We were prepared to hate on "The Proposal" as just another summer wedding movie, but this one actually has some classic romantic comic appeal. Bullock and Reynolds can banter, and it's very entertaining. Much of the charm comes from Reynolds. His character is cynical yet likeable, career driven yet still an angsty teenager around his father. It's fun to watch him gradually grow a spine.
The film does venture into the absurd gag every so often: a eagle kidnaps a puppy, an unattractive stripper takes things too far, Granny goes native, and so on. These moments of stupidity take away from what would otherwise be a well-acted film.
One final kudos: "The Proposal" cast Betty White as the grandmother, a whole year before her pop culture resurgence. As always, she's hilarious.
Final Score = B-
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