The Proposal

OMG Betty White is in a new movie! That’s right America’s National Treasure THE Betty White is starring in the new romantic comedy The Proposal that opens this Friday. Finally, we get a summer movie that will live up to the hype! And her co-stars aren’t too shabby either: Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. But really it’s all about the Betty!

OK maybe it isn’t all about Betty. It might be a little about Sandra Bullock and maybe a little more about Ryan Reynolds. In The Proposal book editor and bitchy boss Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) is in danger of being deported back to Canada. In her desperation she bribes her long-suffering assistant Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) into marrying her so she can stay in the country. Drew agrees with a few caveats, one of which is the couple must journey to his family’s home in Alaska for the weekend. In close quarters, under the prying eyes of Drew’s ex-girlfriend (Watchmen’s Malin Ackerman) his parents (Craig T. Nelson and Mary Steenburgen) and his beloved grandma (the incomparable Betty White) the pair find their relationship changing and the business deal suddenly seeming inappropriate and unimportant.

The Proposal is a passable romantic comedy. It’s got some laughs, chemistry between the two stars, a few tears, an adorable fluffy dog and of course Betty White. What it doesn’t have is a great story. This is all well-trod territory. In fact it was pointed out to me by my friend Sunshine that there were eerie similarities between Margaret and the Lucy character Bullock played in While You Were Sleeping (1995). This genre is Bullock’s forte and she plays up the physical comedy of it well. Reynolds is he usual acerbic self and looks stunning unclothed. It’s a big summer for young Ryan. His turn as Deadpool in the Wolverine origins film garnered him an origins movie of his own. I, for one, am very much looking forward to that.

There are 3 scene stealers in this movie. The aforementioned Ms Betty White is delightful as the hopeful Annie. All she wants is to see her one and only grandson married before she dies and she goes to any length to achieve that. Fans of “The Office” on NBC will recognize Oscar Nuñez as Ramone, the town’s one and only exotic dancer. He is hysterical. Lastly there is the dog. I don’t know its name or its breed but dammit I want one! When you see it you’ll get what I mean.

If you need a cute date movie this weekend and aren’t really up to seeing Jack Black in animal skins The Proposal is a safe bet. Betty recommends it highly.