The Proposal [Blu-ray]

 

There’s not much originality on display in Anne Fletcher’s The Proposal, but what the film does have is a slate of engaging actors, some nicely paced direction, and a feel-good vibe that takes hold a quarter of the way through the film and doesn’t let up. The amount of laughs the film generates will vary for each viewer, but the general appeal of the film’s various elements is pretty undeniable.

 

About to be deported to Canada on some technicality, high powered book editor Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) commands her subservient executive assistant Andy Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) to marry her thus garnering her instant U.S. citizenship. Though he’s loathed working for her for the past three years, Andy realizes the quickest track toward the editorship he covets is to go along with the sham marriage. Standing in the way of the decidedly unhappy couple is a suspicious INS agent (Denis O’Hare) and Andy’s cold and aloof father Joe (Craig T. Nelson) who’d always hoped Andy would give up his New York book world folly and come back to Alaska to run the lucrative family enterprises. More delighted by the quick engagement of Andy and Margaret are Andy’s doting mother Grace (Mary Steenburgen) and feisty grandmother Annie (Betty White). A weekend sojourn to Alaska to meet the family, celebrate grandma's birthday, and become familiar with Andy’s life (critical for the INS to accept the application for marriage) will make or break their plan.

 

Peter Chiarelli’s screenplay is buoyant and good natured once the animosity begins to thaw between the couple once they return to his hometown and Margaret sees what a loyal, loving family Andy has. Prior to that, the evil is poured on pretty thick and creepy at the beginning, however, invading cartoon land with its extremes, so the movie has to work harder than it should have to in order to win back audience good will for the principals. Director Fletcher’s last romantic comedy 27 Dresses (which truth to tell had a more original premise despite some missteps in casting and execution) and this one both feature some well delivered set pieces focusing on supporting cast members. Betty White gets a very funny campfire dance which engages Sandra Bullock, and there’s an embarrassingly awful male stripper (Oscar Nunez) who bedevils Bullock delightfully throughout the movie. Fletcher also has a beautifully constructed widescreen overhead shot as Bullock in bed and Reynolds on the floor sing each other to sleep, one of the tenderest and most pleasurable moments in the movie and yet staged almost as a throwaway. Of course, the nude encounter between the two is meant to jack up audience lasciviousness for both sexes (it works), and an early scene where the two improvise stories about their proposal is well staged and played by the two stars.

 

Sandra Bullock is an old hand at romantic comedy and does her usual accomplished job with this even if it’s not the freshest performance she’s ever given. Ryan Reynolds successfully upstages her in quite a few scenes and stakes a claim as one of the up-and-coming stars of current romantic comedy. No words can describe how many scenes Betty White steals from everyone in the picture, but she does it so delightfully and with such ease that she’s a pleasure to watch. Oscar Nunez also excels at scene stealing in all of his moments during the movie where he literally pops up when you least expect him, always a welcome sight even when only wearing a thong. Mary Steenburgen and Craig T. Nelson do pretty much rudimentary work as the parents whose love for their son manifests itself in different ways. Denis O’Hare gets to grimace and snarl to his heart’s content as the mistrustful INS agent.

 

 

 

The film has been framed at 2.35:1 and is presented in a 1080p transfer using the AVC codec. Though appearing slightly soft and undersaturated in the early going, the film’s later scenes are sharper and more true in color. Flesh tones seem natural and appealing though this won’t be one of the Blu-rays which will be notable for fine object detail. The film has been divided into 12 chapters.

 

 

 

 

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound mix does a good job of spreading out the Aaron Zigman music score throughout the range of the soundfield. Though there isn’t a great amount of ambient noises in the surround channels, a few journeys into nature do allow the mixers to place some sounds of the forest into various channels for some effective if not exemplary surround presence.

 

The audio commentary by director Anne Fletcher and screenwriter Peter Chiarelli begins poorly with the two describing what we’re seeing on screen and basically finishing each other’s sentences. Later, they seem to break free of this bad habit and begin to impart worthwhile information about location shooting, casting, and script alterations. It’s not the greatest commentary, and there are some silent moments along the way, but it’s a reasonably pleasant listen if you’re a fan of the movie.

 

All of the bonus featurettes are offered in 1080p.

 

There are three deleted scenes which may be viewed separately or in one 6 ½-minute grouping. There is also commentary by Fletcher and Chiarelli which can be turned on or off for each clip.

 

The alternate ending for the movie can be viewed with or without director and writer commentary. It too hurriedly brings the film to a conclusion, but does offer improvisational actress Niecy Nash in a funny bit as a sassy flight attendant. It runs 6 ½ minutes.

 

“Set Antics: Outtakes and Other Absurdities from The Proposal” is, as it says, a montage of flubs and screw-ups along with the actors making faces at the camera before action is called. It runs 6 ½ minutes.

 

The disc offers trailers for Lost, 10 Things I Hate About You, Scrubs, Old Dogs, and Everybody’s Fine.

 

The second disc in the set is the digital copy of the film with an enclosed card offering instructions for installation on PC and Mac format devices.

 

 

 

 

While not brimming with originality, The Proposal does brim with good actors and high spirits and should offer a pleasing diversion for those looking for an old fashioned romantic comedy. The Blu-ray looks and sounds fine making for a good rental for a date night at home.

 

 

Matt Hough

Charlotte, NC