The Proposal (2009)

A pushy boss forces her young assistant to marry her in order to keep her Visa status in the U.S. and avoid deportation to Canada.

Director:

Anne Fletcher

Writer:

Peter Chiarelli

Stars:

Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Mary Steenburgen

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 7 wins & 18 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sandra Bullock	...	Margaret Tate
Ryan Reynolds	...	Andrew Paxton
Mary Steenburgen	...	Grace Paxton
Craig T. Nelson	...	Joe Paxton
Betty White	...	Grandma Annie
Denis O'Hare	...	Mr. Gilbertson
Malin Akerman	...	Gertrude
Oscar Nuñez	...	Ramone
Aasif Mandvi	...	Bob Spaulding
Michael Nouri	...	Chairman Bergen
Michael Mosley	...	Chuck
Dale Place	...	Jim McKittrick
Alicia Hunt	...	Coffee Barista
Alexis Garcia	...	Immigration Clerk (as Alexis R. Garcia)
Kortney Adams	...	Colden Books Receptionist

Storyline

For three years, Andrew Paxton has slaved as the assistant to Margaret Tate, hard-driving editor at a New York publisher. When Margaret, a Canadian, faces deportation for an expired visa, she hatches a scheme to marry Andrew - he agrees if she'll promise a promotion. A skeptical INS agent vows to test the couple about each other the next Monday. Andrew had plans to fly home that weekend for his grandma's 90th, so Margaret goes with him - to Sitka, Alaska - where mom, dad, and grams await. Family dynamics take over: tensions between dad and Andrew, an ex-girlfriend, Andrew's dislike of Margaret, and her past color the next few days, with the INS ready to charge Andrew with fraud.

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Plot Keywords:

male objectification | father son relationship | alaska | deportation | sitka alaska | 

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Taglines:

Here comes the bribe...

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, nudity and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [France]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 June 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

La proposition

Filming Locations:

Javits Federal Office Building - 26 Federal Plaza, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$33,627,598 (USA) (19 June 2009)

Gross:

$163,947,053 (USA) (30 October 2009)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Mandeville Films, Kurtzman/Orci

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

225 Franklin St., Boston, was the real location of The Colden Books office. The entire main office, including Margaret's and Bob's offices, were completely rebuilt and replicated at Disney Studios in Burbank, CA for pickups and re-shoots in January 2009.

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Goofs

Early scene - bedtime - shows sun's movement to indicate location within Arctic Circle, but the sun angle in subsequent scenes could only occur at much lower latitudes.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Andrew Paxton: Shit!

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Connections

Referenced in Family Guy: Farmer Guy (2013)

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Soundtracks

I've Got You Under My Skin
Written by Cole Porter
Performed by Michael Bublé
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.
By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

A fun way to spend an afternoon

The Proposal isn't going to win any Oscars, nor will it become your favourite movie of all time. However, it does exactly what it is supposed to do; that is to entertain you. The Proposal is the story of a tough editor Margaret Tate (Bullock) who forces her assistant Andrew Tate (Ryan Reynolds) to marry her so she can stay in the U.S. (Interestingly, in the movie Bullock plays a Canadian and Reynolds an American while in real life, the reverse is true). What happens next will not surprise viewers but they will get many laughs along the way. Reynolds and Bullocks are very funny and also very believable. Betty White (from the Golden Girls) almost steals the show as Andrew's 90 year old "Gammy". The beautiful Alaskan setting doesn't hurt things either. Overall this is not a unique movie or even a unique role for Bullock but it is a very funny (and fun) way to spend an afternoon.