The Hindu : Karnataka News : A dizzying climb to the ‘top’ Film reviews

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Sunday, Jul 12, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka

A dizzying climb to the ‘top’ Film reviews

Killer role: Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds in The Proposal.

The Proposal (English)

Cast: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Betty White

Director: Anne Fletcher

There is something sad about Sandra Bullock stripping in this by-the-numbers romantic comedy. A gifted actor like Bullock, who personified poise in solid blockbusters like “Speed”, does not need to take her clothes off to make box office magic.

A “Taming of the Shrew” update, “The Proposal” tells the story of New-York based book editor Margaret, who is the regulation boss from hell. Stepping into Meryl Streep’s vertigo-inducing stilettos from “The Devil Wears Prada”, Margaret eats writers and assistants on her dizzy climb up the corporate ladder. When threatened with the loss of her job thanks to an expired visa (she is Canadian), the ever-resourceful Margaret wangles an engagement from her harried assistant, Andrew. With the immigration officers to convince, Andrew and Margaret head to Alaska for a family weekend to celebrate Andrew’s grandmother’s ninetieth birthday. And then you are in cliché central as the cold-hearted big city girl with pointed shoes comes in contact with the great outdoors, real people and a warm family. Rom com staples are aplenty — from cute dog, girl next door versus city vamp and traditional wedding to a heart attack, a near-drowning experience and a mad run to the airport. Nudity, not a rom com principle, also features.

Bullock gamely works with the wafer-thin material at her disposal while Ryan Reynolds is cute as Andrew. Betty White is the wise grandmother who knows the couple is in love before they do.

Boston, standing in for Alaska, and mountains being added on digitally, are, however, emblematic of pulling wool over the poor audience’s eyes.

MINI ANTHIKAD-CHHIBBER

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