Spent yesterday with Greg, Mike, and Joel... Took advantage of the first really-truly Summer Saturday, and checked out the tall ships (actually, we just walked by them, and the lines to get close to them...), and wandered around the waterfront and the North End (for lunch).
Wound up at the movies, and caught "The Proposal" with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. In addition to always liking Bullock, I was curious about the movie since I had spent some time trying to find an apartment rental wherein her character would reside (apparently the initial NY setting was supposed to be Boston).
So, with low expectations (this seems like an obvious Netflix candidate) and some mild interest, we sprung for the tix and headed in...
"The Proposal" is a modern day spin on the Doris Day/ Rock Hudson films of the late 50s-early 60s. Bullock plays the sharklike publishing exec, with no time or patience for love. Reynolds is her assistant, lackey, and obvious eventual romantic foil. The plot kicks in when the two opposites pose as about-to-be-marrieds to avoid a problematic expired visa that would require Bullock's deportation to Canada. So, off to Alaska and a visit to Reynolds' family (complete with another brilliant turn from Betty White!), where the pair will (gasp) realize that they were meant to be together. The ice queen melts despite the Alaskan climate... This is
all cookie-cutter stuff, recycled and reused; predictable as can be, and not remotely groundbreaking. Also, incredibly appealing and well executed. A smart spin on a tired formula, elevated by winning performances by Bullock and Reynolds (great chemistry with these likeable leads), combined with a stellar supporting cast and great scenery (Rockport, MA doubles for Alaska), elevate this Proposal. Audiences are still saying "Yes"-- after a month in release, the theater was crowded... This is Bullock's best box office showing, and has cemented Reynolds' place as Hollywood's hottest leading man. (He has just signed on to play the Green Lantern in the DC comics adaptation). This is a "little film that could" that managed to both entertain its audience, and cement the relevance of its two leads at the same time. A good bet all around.
