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Created Sep 23, 2009 05:52PM PST • Edited Dec 01, 2017 05:10PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Barely OK 2.0

   Proposal rejected. A promising set-up proves insufficient to generate many laughs or even much in the way of basic charm. Sandra Bullock can’t elevate above the leaden script, perhaps because she’s never better or worse than the lines she’s given to deliver. Here they hang in the air like a lame proposal, easily rejected.

   Still, there are worse ways to while away an airline flight. The concept of a powerful female boss forcing her male underling to marry her for immigration purposes has much resonance. As a film, The Proposal looks great and travels to a beautiful corner of America.

   Just don’t expect to get hitched to it.

4. Acting

   OK 2.5

   Sandra Bullock seems past her RomCom expiration date given her labored performance here. And this was her relatively successful ’09 romantic comedy. The other one – All About Steve – was apparently worse.

   Ryan Reynolds acquits himself rather well in the straight-man role. He’s not funny, but his timing is good, he’s likable, and he can act. Net net, romantic comedies are now one of the many genres he can play.

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

6. Female Stars Barely OK 2.0

7. Female Costars Very Good 3.5

8. Male Costars Good 3.0

10. Film

    Pretty Bad 1.5

    Beautiful scenery in an intriguing locale are all that distinguish this film. Rookie writer Peter Chiarelli clearly hasn’t found his calling, while Anne Fletcher should return to choreography and give up her fledgling directorial career.

11. Direction Pretty Bad 1.5

12. Play Bad 1.0

13. Music OK 2.5

14. Visuals Good 3.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.3

17. Sex Innocent 1.5

18. Violence Gentle 1.1

19. Rudeness Polite 1.3

21. Reality

    Glib 1.2

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.6

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0