Sandra Bullock is workaholic Margaret Tate who is an executive at a publishing house she is a hard-nosed tough cookie ready to fire you at a moments notice if you step even a toe out of line. Margaret is Canadian by birth and has been given numerous opportunities to fill out the paper work to renew her visa. When threatened with deportation from the USA Margaret makes a desperate bid to stay. This includes announcing that her young assistant Andrew Paxton played by Ryan Reynolds is also her fiancé and they are very much in love. This news comes, as a shock to Paxton who is under the impression Margaret Tate is like the ice queen incapable of human emotion let alone loving someone. After much persuasion and a promotion to editor Andrew in on board for the scam. With the promise of a quickie divorce it seems it’s a win win situation but could it really be that easy?

When the government investigates there relationship Andrew flies Margaret to his home town of Sitka, Alaska and at first Margaret doesn’t know what to make of the Paxton family as she lost her own family early on in her life and has no experience of family life. As she settles down as the visit goes on Margaret warms to them and feels comfortable at the idea of family life. The family also suggest the pair could marry that very weekend and a spark has defiantly been ignited between the two, during the ceremony Margaret tells everyone she can’t marry Andrew and confesses the pairs arrangement to everyone including the immigration officer before fleeing the wedding. She is told she has 24 hours to get back to Canadian soil, returning to her office in New York to pack up her belongings an out of breathe Andrew appears and confesses his true feelings for her in front of the whole office. It appears the ice queen had her heard melted by love where she least expected to find it.

The relationship between Grace, Joe and Andrew Paxton is believable Joe is pressuring Andrew into taking over the Paxton business in Sitka but Andrew wants to live his own life with his own dreams, when there are tense moments onscreen Gammy played by Betty White adds subtle humour and is instantly loveable and really shines on screen.

Although The Proposal is the same predictable Rom-Com formula we have all seen, it really works. It an enjoyable film and well and one of the best ‘Chick Flicks’ of the past few years. Ryan Reynolds can sometimes be hit or miss in terms of his film choices but this was a good career move and I would like to see Sandra and him work together in the future as I thought they worked really well together.

The Proposal is a feel good film with some very funny parts guaranteed to make you smile, for me it was really good to see Sandra Bullock back on top form doing what she does best. I recommend you give this film a chance and it might surprise you.

© BRWC 2010.