The Proposal Review (2009) – A Hilarious, Heartwarming, and Wild Romantic Comedy!

We potatoes are diving headfirst into the season of love with a rom-com that delivers charm, chaos, and one of the most delightful fake-dating tropes of all time! The Proposal (2009) is a film that has nestled itself comfortably in our hearts and remains a nostalgic film for us potatoes that we enjoy re-visiting. With stellar performances, hilarious antics, and an unexpectedly touching romance, this movie is a whirlwind of fun and nonsense!

Before we get started, we want to give a gentle reminder that while this film is primarily a lighthearted and delightful comedy, it does touch on themes of workplace power dynamics, immigration struggles, grief, and family expectations. These themes are handled with humor and heart but are still worth keeping in mind before watching.

Let’s dive into the madness!

The film begins with an upbeat song by The Gabe Dixon Band called, Find My Way. While the song plays, we get a glimpse into the normal routines and lives of our two main characters. Margaret (Sandra Bullock) is enjoying a quiet, calm morning while Andrew (Ryan Reynolds)…is not. His alarm clock did not go off and he is running late!

We see him rushing to get to work, and in the process he accidentally spills Margaret’s coffee down his front! Desperate, he manages to get a coworker to switch clothing with him, as he rushes to get to Margaret’s office before she does!

Margaret saunters into work, and Andrew is there without a hair out of place. He hands her the coffee that was supposed to be his. Margaret catches onto this, and notes that he apparently drinks the exact same coffee as her. She teases him about it, and their back and forth is truly hilarious! From here we learn that they work in the bustling world of publishing! Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock), is a powerhouse editor at a major New York publishing house. Margaret is brilliant, sharp, and highly successful—but also rude, notoriously demanding, and highly intimidating, striking fear into the hearts of her employees.

We potatoes have mixed feelings about this! On the one hand, too often in media, we see powerful women reduced to caricatures or forced into a softer mold to be more “likable,” but Margaret is unapologetic, and we can’t help but respect that. At the same time…she is self-centered and rude. Margaret is definitely not all that likeable…at least at first!

But Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds), is a different story! He is Margaret’s dedicated assistant who has been enduring her never-ending demands for three years! He dreams of one day becoming an editor which is why he works as hard as he does and puts up with so much from Margaret. He is snarky and sarcastic, but he is also kind, patient, and funny. He seems to be the opposite of Margaret in every way.

They continue with their day, until Margaret gets called into her boss’s office. She tells Andrew to come up with an excuse and get her after a certain amount of time, “we have a lot to do!” She goes to her boss’s office, where Chairmen Bergen (Michael Nouri) informs her that her work visa application was denied…and Margaret is going to be deported! Margaret is originally from Canada and does not take it seriously at first. “Come on! Come on! It’s not like I’m even an immigrant! I’m from Canada, for Christ’s sake.” We potatoes do not love the subtle racism displayed in that statement…but moving on.

This, of course, changes nothing. She tries to come up with solutions, but none of them are practical and her boss’s hands are tied. Just in the nick of time, Andrew pops into the meeting with an excuse to get Margaret out…but things have changed. Now faced with losing her high-powered career, she impulsively declares that she and Andrew are engaged! “You and I are getting married!” Andrew is, of course, shocked and horrified by this sudden “engagement.” Margaret declares awkwardly that, “You can’t fight a love like ours,” in an attempt to sell it.

Chairmen Bergen congratulates them, but reminds them that it needs to be made legal in order to avoid deportation. “Oh! Legal. Yeah, well, then…then that means we…we need to get ourselves to the immigration office. So we can work this whole mess out. Right?” Margret gives an awkward smile while Andrew numbly and robotically goes with it and agrees in the moment. Andrew is still in shock as they head back to her office…processing what on earth just happened! In the privacy of her office Andrew expresses his unwillingness to comply with Margaret’s scheme. Margaret, ever the strategist, uses her influence to coerce him into going along with the ruse.

This scene can be a rough one to watch, she is so self-absorbed and coercive. She does not seem to care at all about Andrew’s feelings on the matter, and successfully bulldozes him into compliance. And so begins one truly unhinged, comical, and strange ride!

Wrapping up from here! To sell their relationship to immigration officials, the “couple” embarks on a weekend trip to Sitka, Alaska, where Andrew’s family resides. This shift in setting is one of the film’s strongest elements! Moving from the cold, corporate world of New York to the charming, close-knit chaos of Andrew’s hometown brings out layers in both characters that we potatoes have a lot of fun with.

Andrew’s family is warm, loving, and deeply skeptical of Margaret. His mom (Mary Steenburgen) and grandma (Betty White) are absolutely delighted by the engagement but can sense something isn’t quite right. Meanwhile, Andrew’s dad (Craig T. Nelson) is less than thrilled and sees Margaret as a manipulative boss exploiting his son. He is not wrong, but the way he handles it is not at all helpful.

Andrew’s dad struggles with Andrew having different wants and needs. He struggles to treat Andrew with respect which is of course difficult for Andrew. This dynamic is an unfortunate one, but it is also one we feel is all too common. It is imperative to healthy adult relationships that everyone be treated with respect, it is also important to note that children are not miniature or new versions of their parents…they are whole new people with their own wants and needs. We potatoes appreciate how The Proposal doesn’t just focus on the romance but also explores Andrew’s strained relationship with his father and the pressure of familial expectations.

Margaret, who has spent years building emotional walls, is completely out of her element in this cozy, loving household! Watching her awkwardly attempt to integrate into Andrew’s world is exceedingly entertaining and comical. We have to say that Sandra Bullock’s comedic timing is absolutely impeccable. We potatoes still laugh despite having seen this film several times!

But beyond the laughs, the film does something truly wonderful: it allows Margaret to evolve. Which is, in our opinion, the best part of the film. At the start, she’s all business, sharp edges, and no emotional vulnerability. But as she spends more time with Andrew and his family, we see her soften in a way that feels natural, not forced. We learn about her past, her grief, her loneliness, and the way she has built her life to avoid attachment. Watching her slowly realize that she might actually want and need real connection is one of the film’s most touching aspects.

And then, of course, there’s Andrew. Ryan Reynolds is at his absolute best here, bringing his signature charm and sarcastic wit to the role while also giving Andrew depth. He could have been just the put-upon assistant, but instead, he’s someone who has his own dreams, frustrations, and, most importantly, boundaries. While he does initially let Margaret bulldoze him, he finds his voice. He doesn’t just roll over and take Margaret’s demands! He challenges her, pushes back, and calls her out. Which we love to see! Their banter is electric, and the way their relationship slowly shifts from hate to reluctant allies to something more is extremely well-done.

We potatoes must also take a moment to bow down to Betty White. She is greatly missed. She was a legend and an amazing individual. We love her character, Grandma Annie. She is an absolute treasure in this film, stealing every scene she’s in. Her mischievous, carefree spirit brings an extra layer of hilarity and warmth, and we potatoes adore her antics.

Now, we do have a couple of critiques! While we are entertained by the fake engagement trope, it is worth noting that the workplace power dynamic between Margaret and Andrew is more than just messy, it is a blatant abuse of power. While the film tries to make it clear that Andrew is not completely powerless in this situation (he negotiates terms with her early on, pushes back etc.), but it’s still incredibly cringe-worthy. It is also worth noting, that the enemies to lovers trope…is not at all realistic and should not be applied to real life relationships.

We potatoes always appreciate films that are willing to touch on topics that can be difficult, like grief. Margaret struggles with grief in the film, and it gives us a lot of insight into her character. Grief is so complicated and challenging. Grief can cause us to avoid connection out of fear. Fear of losing people we love, fear of vulnerability, fear of pain, fear of the unknown, etc. Spending time with Andrew and his family brings up a lot of grief for Margaret which is hard for her to process. She has been using work, rudeness, and insensitivity to keep people at bay. While we can hold space, compassion and empathy for her story, and for her grief. This does not excuse her behavior. This does not make it at all OK for her to use Andrew or to treat people generally the way that she does.

We potatoes will say this again and again…and again! Therapy! Therapy is a truly wonderful thing that would have greatly benefited Margaret, Andrew, etc. If it is accessible to you, we highly recommend it. Moving on!

Also, while we potatoes love how much growth Margaret undergoes, we still felt uncomfortable with the power-dynamic of their relationship. While Margaret does grow as a person, and becomes somewhat likeable in the end…it is still deeply inappropriate for her to be dating anyone she works with. Despite these critiques the film is otherwise hilarious nonsense, and delightful! We recommend giving this one a watch for the sheer silliness of it all!

At its heart, The Proposal is ridiculous, and unrealistic, but it is also entertaining and a good laugh. As we potatoes have said before, sometimes we need a little nonsense and silly humor amidst all of the chaos, especially now. If you are someone that likes movies that have heart, humor, absurdity and two leads with chemistry that practically crackles off the screen then this is one you should definitely see! It’s a story about unexpected love, personal growth, and the power of letting people in. Plus, it delivers some of the most memorable comedic moments (that naked scene? Forever hilarious!).

So here’s to The Proposal! A film that makes us laugh, cringe, and believe in the magic of unexpected love. Cheers to Margaret’s journey of self-discovery, Andrew’s well-earned moments of standing his ground, and Grandma Annie’s flawless comedic timing. And, most importantly, cheers to you!

We give this movie 4 out of 5 Salmon Martini’s!

The Proposal Drinking Game

Take a sip anytime:

1.     Andrew says “Margaret”

2.     Anyone says Canada

3.     Margaret is a bully or throws her weight around

4.     Andrew says something snarky or witty

5.     Andrew gets some revenge

6.     Margaret obsesses over her phone

7.     Margaret lies

8.     Anyone gets into Rom Com hijinks

9.     Margaret makes a snarky, sarcastic, or rude comment

10.  Margaret and Andrew share a legitimate romantic or intimate moment

11.  The immigration agent shows up

12.  Anyone mentions Andrew’s Ex

13.  Andrew mentions his dream of being an editor

14.  Andrew's parents argue or bicker

15.  Anyone says "green card" or "immigration"

16.  Ramone pops up at a new location

17.  Anytime Betty White makes you laugh

18.  Kevin the Eskie dog is on screen

What did you think? Did you like the movie? Did you hate it? Are you going to watch it? What movies should we watch? Any and all thoughts are welcome! Let us know here in the comments and always remember to be safe and drink responsibly!