A win-win Proposal

Film review: The Proposal

MANILA, Philippines - Among Hollywood’s powerhouse cast of ladies, Sandra Bullock is unique.

She is the perennial goofball, a get-down-and-get-dirty kind of screen princess in the mold of a Phoebe Buffet. Like her, Sandra’s typical character is not the most refined of ladies yet is singularly lovable — like a noisy pet dog that will shed like heck on your velveteen bag. Yet, you utterly love it anyway.

Ever since she captured our hearts as a wound-up, manic heroine to Keanu Reeves in Speed, Sandra has filled that niche arguably left by another oft naïve sweetheart of the screen: Meg Ryan. You can also make a case out of comparing Sandra to Reese Witherspoon.

But I digress. Reese is far more flexible. Something in me still just can’t picture Sandra in a serious role (although she’s had a number). The problem is that I keep waiting for a punchline.

So, back in her element, Sandra solicits some big-screen help from equally funny, lovable leading man Ryan Reynolds (who appears in such funfests as Waiting and Just Friends). Ryan, incidentally, is also known as the “Canadian Ham” following his superb role in 2002’s National Lampoon’s Van Wilder.

Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Here’s yet another love-and-hate-are-two-sides-of-the-same-coin flick. We know how it should end. Question is, will it hold our attention on the way to that end? While we’re at it, however, consider that we take in a great number of movies knowing, or at least having an idea of, how they end. We sit in awe and watch the development into that largely predetermined conclusion. Take it a step further and think about how to explain why people line up to see the Harry Potter films even if they’ve read the books.

Exactly.

That being the case, let’s get back to the Sandra starrer. Is it worth it sitting through all one hour and 48 minutes of the movie to see The Proposal?

The answer, surprisingly, is yes. In The Proposal, getting to Point A to Point B is a terrific ride — if only to see the natural (make that au naturelle) comedic talents of Sandra and Ryan.

Sandra (who is also an executive producer, thank you very much) plays ice queen book editor Margaret who terrorizes her workplace, and makes a nifty doormat of her efficient though clearly unhappy assistant Andrew (Ryan). This less than cozy little setup is about to be shaken up violently as company bosses summon Margaret to point out a little oversight on her part: That she faces deportation (to, you guessed it, Canada).

Ah, but what use is an emasculated assistant if you can’t have your way with him, right? Before Andrew knows it, he has become Plan B to help Margaret keep the status quo and his job.

Now that you’ve wrapped your heads around this, imagine the great adventure the two have as they go visiting with Andrew’s family in Alaska who have no idea of the, well, proposal. Andrew’s family turns out to be a little loopy but 100 percent loving — something that totally disorients the heartless bitch, er, Margaret.

Lest I give out the ending that you already know, let me say that Ryan can trade comedic lines and physical funnies with Sandra like nobody else can. He is exceptionally glib, and gifted with a precious sarcasm.

An enthralling support cast led by Golden Girls funny lady Betty White (who plays Andrew’s Grandma Annie) adds to a zesty dish of laughs. To watch for, too, is that scene stealer of an Oompa Loompa known as Ramon (played by Oscar Nuñez). I call him “Ubiquitous Ramon.”

As traditional romantic comedies go, there is the regulation tugging at the heartstrings in key moments — particularly those revolving around the dysfunction yet inescapable lure of family ties. But worry not, dear moviegoer, for the protagonists shall overcome.

Oh, you know that already.