The Proposal

Critics Consensus

Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds exhibit plenty of chemistry, but they're let down by The Proposal's devotion to formula.

44%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 187

67%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 860,227
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Movie Info

When high-powered book editor Margaret faces deportation to her native Canada, the quick-thinking exec declares that she's actually engaged to her unsuspecting put-upon assistant Andrew, who she's tormented for years. He agrees to participate in the charade, but with a few conditions of his own. The unlikely couple heads to Alaska to meet his quirky family, and the always-in-control city girl finds herself in one comedic fish-out-of-water situation after another. With an impromptu wedding in the works and an immigration official on their tails, Margaret and Andrew reluctantly vow to stick to the plan despite the precarious consequences.
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (for sexual content, nudity and language)
  • Genre:
    Comedy, Romance
  • Directed By:
    Anne Fletcher
  • Written By:
    Peter Chiarelli
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $163,900,057
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Walt Disney Pictures

Cast

Sandra Bullock
as Margaret Tate
Ryan Reynolds
as Andrew Paxton
Malin Akerman
as Gertrude
Craig T. Nelson
as Joe Paxton
Mary Steenburgen
as Grace Paxton
Denis O'Hare
as Mr. Gilbertson
Betty White
as Grandma Annie
Oscar Nunez
as Ramon
Aasif Mandvi
as Bob Thurber
Niecy Nash
as Flight Attendant
Michael Nouri
as Chairman Bergen
Michael Mosley
as Chuck
Maureen Keiller
as Suzanne Joines
Dale Place
as Jim McKittrick
Mini Anden
as Simone
Alicia Hunt
as Jillian
Jerrell Lee Wesley
as Jordan
Kortney Adams
as Receptionist
Chris Whitney
as Medivac Pilot
Gregg Edelman
as Lead Counsel Malloy
Phyllis Kay
as Mrs. McKittrick
Anne Fletcher
as Jill
Alexis Garcia
as Immigration Clerk
Kate Lacey
as Party Guest
Gene Fleming
as Store Owner
Mary-Linda Rapelye
as Executive Secretary
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News & Interviews for The Proposal

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Critic Reviews for The Proposal

All Critics (187) | Top Critics (47) | Fresh (83) | Rotten (104)

  • They may as well have called this one 'Mis-Matched Sham Wedding Comedy #57513' for all the effort it makes to shake new life out of a tattered genre.

    Jul 24, 2009 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    David Jenkins

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • One minute you're watching a 21st-century remake of His Girl Friday, the next you're having to endure some awful, dumbed-down "women's picture". Bullock deserves better.

    Jul 24, 2009 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Toby Young

    Times (UK)
    Top Critic

  • Sandra Bullock is teamed up with Ryan Reynolds, and each star's face has a waxy immobility that has nothing to do with Botox; the pure awfulness of the script has paralysed their facial muscles.

    Jul 24, 2009 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review…

    Peter Bradshaw

    Guardian
    Top Critic

  • The more recurrent noise towards the end was me groaning with disappointment, that a movie which had struck gold with its central matchmaking was succeeding so ruthlessly in taking the shine off.

    Jul 24, 2009 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Tim Robey

    Daily Telegraph (UK)
    Top Critic

  • So keen to be cute it curdles our stomachs and so anxious to be funny it jellifies our funny bones.

    Jul 24, 2009 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Nigel Andrews

    Financial Times
    Top Critic

  • Another dagger in the back of romantic comedy.

    Jul 24, 2009 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review…

    Anthony Quinn

    Independent (UK)
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (187)

Audience Reviews for The Proposal

  • Dec 27, 2012
    Really funny. But it sucks.
    Maymay A Super Reviewer
  • May 08, 2012
    The Proposal is a typical romantic comedy. That's it. There's not much else to say about it. Everything in the film has been done before. There's nothing original about it. Does it please the masses? Certainly. Is it fun? I guess so. I can't say I really enjoyed it, but I didn't dislike it either. It just kept my mind stupidly occupied for a couple hours.
    Jay H Super Reviewer
  • May 06, 2012
    Not a classic but it has it's fair share of laughs. Reynolds keeps things funny and bullock always seems to be likable even in the bad films. These films are such a cliche but that's the way the audience wants them.
    Brendan N Super Reviewer
  • Apr 30, 2012
    The Proposal is an awful film that relies on every romantic film cliché in the book. The film suffers from a poorly written script, poor acting and very bad directing. This film is plainly horrible, and is just not worth anyone's time. The film has absolutely nothing new to offer, and only thing it delivers is a strained formula that is overdone and not interesting anymore. The film was poorly done with no redeeming qualities. The film is poorly done, and they could have done something interesting here, but the film simply falls flat and becomes tiring very quickly. The weakness about this film is the poorly written script, and it feels like they simply just cut and pasted other elements from previous rom-com to make this film. The result is a horrible film, and is one that I found painful to finish, however I managed to do it. This is a definite failure of a comedy, one that a poor cast and poor directing has made this film a film to avoid. I hated this film. I thought it was a waste of time I wish they would stop making romantic comedies because it's always predictable despite a different twist on a familiar story. This film was horrible and the only I can recommend you is to avoid this. Sandra Bullock is better than this. Even Ryan Reynolds. However in this film they're awful. The Proposal is a cliché riddled film that is not worth your time. Watch Bridesmaids instead, you're time will be better spent watching that film that this piece of garbage.
    Alex r Super Reviewer
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