Does the Proposal Stick To the Rom-Com Formula
This 2009 rom-com features plenty of familiar faces, including Ryan Reynolds, Sandra Bullock, Betty White, and some other actors you may recognize. Sandra Bullock as Margaret Tate and Ryan Reynolds as Andrew Paxton portray an unlikely couple that somehow works out. Like most movies that fall under the rom-com umbrella, The Proposal has a somewhat predictable ending. Although that may sound like a bad thing, there is some comfort in the predictability of rom-coms. Despite the movie’s 44% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, The Proposal has become a staple of the romantic comedy genre. While the formula for the perfect rom-com has changed slightly over time, the abundance of them that came out in the 2000s had a very specific style that mainly relied on casting credible actors who would ensure box office success regardless of the quality of the actual content; And, of course, it doesn’t hurt to make them nice to look at. The formula seemed to work out pretty well for tons of movies that would otherwise be considered mediocre and forgettable, like Confessions of a Shopaholic, She’s the Man, and many more.
I think what measures the success of a romantic comedy is how the audience reacts to the writing and if the comedic elements are delivered well, which can often be a challenge. In that way, The Proposal succeeds without seeming to try too hard to get a laugh out of the audience. With Betty White acting as the lovable “Gammy” in the movie, a couple of chuckles are a given. Beyond that, I think the pairing of Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock as love interests is just strange enough for it to work out. Different from some other rom-coms of the 2000s, this movie doesn’t take itself too seriously, which makes for a more enjoyable viewing experience. It keeps the cringe factor pretty low, which is impressive for the genre. And the quirky casting choices make for the perfect storm of comedic confusion; especially when we see Oscar Nunez (from The Office) playing the only male exotic dancer in the small town.
Sandra Bullock’s character, Margaret Tate, is a #girlboss in publishing who is known for being tough on her coworkers, especially her loyal assistant, Andrew. Being the successful career woman that she is, Margaret is painted as a somewhat emotionless person who needs someone to come along and show her what she might be missing out on by burying herself in work. On the other hand, Andrew Paxton is working to prove to himself and show his parents that he can succeed away from them and accomplish his dreams on his own. As big boss Margaret is faced with deportation, she realizes she can use his power over him to manipulate him into illegally marrying her (sounds a bit toxic, but I guess it’s romantic in this case?). This, of course, comes as a shock to their coworkers, who see Margaret as a powerful figure, not to mention she is also Andrew’s direct boss. Determined to maintain her citizenship and keep her job, despite the illegal escapes involved, Margaret decides to tag along on Andrew’s trip back home to a remote town in Alaska. Here she discovers his family is well off and owns businesses all over Sitka, Alaska. After they welcome her with open arms, Margaret is reminded of the importance of family.
Given the complicated power dynamic between the two, it is interesting to watch how their romantic relationship develops. Throughout the movie, Margaret’s character expresses her fear of developing an emotional connection with Andrew, but slowly begins to share bits of her life with him. I think this character choice speaks to how women, especially in positions of power, tend to try harder to hide emotions to match their male counterparts in the workplace. Andrew and Margaret’s relationship hits some undeniable bumps along the road, but you’ll have to watch to figure out how the relationship unfolds.
The ASLC will be showing The Proposal November 17th at 7pm.
Written by: Isabella Harrison
Art by: Yanni Spanolios | Instagram
