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The Proposal

Review by Annie Young Frisbie | posted 6/19/2009 08:56AM

Contrived is almost too soft a word for the premise of The Proposal, Sandra Bullock's latest romantic comedy offering, yet the fresh dialogue, gorgeous scenery, and ultimately winsome love story make ...

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Allie

Posted: October 18, 2009 4:31 PM


This movie was GREAT!!! My mom, older sister and I went and saw this, and we laughed the whole time. The characters were funny, the actors did a good job, and the storyline was great!

Christine

Posted: October 17, 2009 4:30 PM


This movie was really bad. I was expecting this to be very funny because everything Sandra Bullock's done has been excellent. (IMHO) All the situations are pressured, predictable and incredibly dumb? I was shocked that such a talented cast would compromise themselves to be in a movie this ridiculous. All I can figure is they needed a paycheck? Don't waste your time.

terri

Posted: October 16, 2009 9:12 PM


I loved this movie~it is very funny and witty. I don't often buy movies but I told my kids that I want this movie for Christmas. It says a lot when you want to see a movie more than once!

AMA	Posted: October 16, 2009 4:33 PM


My husband and I LOVED this movie! Absolutely hilarious, though I agree that the Betty White dancing in the woods scene was lacking in the laughable humor department. One of the funniest movies we've seen in a long time - felt like we laughed all the way through it!

Jonathan

Posted: September 08, 2009 9:44 AM

My wife and I give this film a qualified recommendation for adults. There are definitely some scenes which are contrived or cliche and sometimes quite unfunny. On the other hand, there are some truly hilarious moments in a story line which only just avoids complete predictability. What is truly memorable is the depth of Bullock's character. While the transformation seems to happen to quickly at first, the wedding dress scene, and the final scene of the film are truly moving. Sadly, the nude scene and bachelorette party are awkward and unnecessary in an otherwise good film.

William Porter

Posted: September 07, 2009 8:52 PM

This is a dog of a film. Definitely a chick flick, but that's not why I disliked it. My wife didn't like it either. And we saw Julie and Julia two weeks ago (even more of a chick flick) and I thought it was hilarious. This film just isn't very funny. And when it's dramatic, it isn't very dramatic. All in all, it isn't very interesting. Poor Sandra Bullock (who I normally like) is badly cast here. At the start of the film - indeed, for the first two thirds of the film - she's supposed to be a clone of the character played by Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada. I love Sandra Bullock, but (a) as an actress she's no Meryl Streep and (b) what I love her for is her tomboyish cuteness. In this film she doesn't get to be herself until the very end of the film and only briefly then. There are a couple of mildly funny moments but not enough to make the film worth the $20 we paid for it.

DocRon

Posted: July 18, 2009 10:22 AM


Man, the Betty White dancing in the woods scene was PAINFULLY unfunny, as was the male strip tease scene. Truely one of those films where almost every funny scene was included in the trailer.

Tomas

Posted: June 26, 2009 10:00 PM


My wife and I loved the movie. It was a perfectly frothy summer-time flick, and nothing in it was inappropriate for teenagers and adults, in our opinion. One point, however: the "utterly gorgeous" scenery was in Massachusetts. They never used a camera anywhere near Alaska!

Terri

Posted: June 26, 2009 5:15 PM

I loved the preview of this film and I like watching Sandra Bullock. So I went on CT's recommendation. That said--I wouldn't have gone had I known there would be an extended (planned to be funny but actually painful to watch) scene with a male stripper and another scene where Sandra Bullock is bascially unclothed and covering only apparently what is not allowed in a PG13 film. True--the film is funny. I laughed out loud several times--but I'm glad I went and not my teenage daughter.

Donna

Posted: June 26, 2009 2:06 PM


I did see this movie and was shocked when I read the CT review afterward - 3 1/2 stars? I was also very surprised CT movies criticized Cassandra for using scripture to hold them to a higher standard. I don't think she was being too harsh at all. There is also a screen where the grandmother worships nature. Yes, it was meant to be funny, but many Christians won't think it is funny at all.

Cassandra

Posted: June 24, 2009 2:09 PM

There is increasing no difference between CT's movie reviews and secular reviews. Perhaps "harsh judgementalism" is what CT needs these days, I hate to say. You guys are beginning to sound like the type of Christians who only follow one verse of the Bible "Judge not" while ignoring verses like "Among God's people there should not even be a hint of sexual immorality" Ephesians 5:3 or Phillippians 4:8 "Whatever is virtuous, whatever is noble, whatever is praiseworthy... think about these things." Now I don't consider this movie one of the most egregious out there, but CT... PLEASE take these concerns and criticisms shared on this forum to heart and repent (turn around) before it is too late. Otherwise you may as well take the word "Christianity" off of your brand. You are accountable to God and are leading many astray (Matt 18:6) (Mark 9:42).

Sarah

Posted: June 22, 2009 5:11 PM


I enjoyed this movie very much. If we judged our movies based on sexual content, the movie was refreshingly clean. That said, it was somewhat predictable but fun to watch the narrative unfold.

CT Movies

Posted: June 22, 2009 11:51 AM


While we stand by our critic's review of the film, we agree that The Family Corner could have included more of a heads-up on potentially objectionable content -- so we've updated that element. And while we do thank our readers for their comments, we would also remind readers to comment with a spirit of grace and to refrain from such harsh judgmentalism. Thank you.

Anastasia

Posted: June 22, 2009 9:08 AM


If some commenters had bothered to look, the MPAA rating specifically references sexual content and language. The eyes roll because people are too lazy to look at the whole picture.

JP	Posted: June 21, 2009 11:36 PM


Very entertaining, funny, and romantic. My wife, daughter and I saw it for father's day, and we all laughed out loud throughout the movie.

Gina	Posted: June 21, 2009 1:00 AM

I think the review was wonderful, as is most of what this writer takes on. She seems to be a modern thinking Christian in a modern world. I'm happy with the review and happy that CT is up with what's truly happening. I think if you're going to expect perfect films, go with Kirk Cameron. Otherwise, in 2009, it's just understood that romantic comedies have this type of *stuff* without it being reported scene by scene. I don't need to agree with the fictional character's choice of religion on scene in order to enjoy a movie.

James Wartian

Posted: June 20, 2009 3:13 PM

After having read another Christian review, I am somewhat taken aback at the glib way the sexual content is written off. Based on this review, I would have been in for a rude shock if my wife and I had gone to see it. I understand a review here is on how well the story is told and the movie is made, not how well it keeps to biblical ethics. But please refrain from doing a disservice to your readers by failing to give adequate warning about the sexual content and innuendos that are in this movie. I clearly will need to look elsewhere if I want to be properly informed about the sexual content of a movie.

Best Comments Section Outside of the NY Post

Posted: June 20, 2009 10:52 AM


Lo0000ve the comments section here. The insight, the charity, the etiquette. I'm going back to reading the tabloids where people know how to really be nasty.

Susan

Posted: June 20, 2009 12:02 AM

I don't think you can get the picture of the movie from reading Plugged In's comments about it, so try not reviewing a movie that you haven't seen. While the film is not perfect, it does have a very high regard for family, marriage and work. I appreciate CT's movie reviews because they are written by people like myself who really like movies! While watching The Proposal I laughed at numerous jokes, cried at emotions exposed and groaned at some silly and embarrassing scenes, but overall, I really enjoyed this movie.

Grace

Posted: June 19, 2009 10:09 PM

Wow, Douglas, try being a little more hateful. Wishing for a fellow Christian to get laid off is about as low as it gets. Nice sensitivity to all of those believers who've lost their jobs. But you apparently don't give a rip about jobs and taking care of families. All you care about is whether CT is shallow enough to fully judge a film by how many bad words and how much skin shows. Yes, you want a judgment, not a review. Read Dan's comment for a little bit of perspective. And show a little Grace to people who have lost their jobs. How dare you use them just to make your judgmental point.

Rick	Posted: June 19, 2009 9:05 PM

While I didn't agree with every character's behavior choices I thought this was an a amusing and upbeat romantic comedy. I would have preferred seeing a little more development of the character's spirituality but I did appreciate the fact that the writers made an effort to be decent where they could have gone a much more worldly way. Dan, thanks for your comments. They seem very on point to me. If you are looking for a really good date movie that will make you laugh and cry...GO!

Dan	Posted: June 19, 2009 8:41 PM

Can you people stop bothering us Christians who actually appreciate film? PluggedIn is basically a review site for kids. They count (literally) the "immoral" acts in a movie with no concept of context or truthful depictions of sin. If that's your cup of tea, please go to that site. Some of us actually appreciate film as an art form that has the power to change and transform through creative and truthful storytelling. Let us enjoy its redemptive value in peace. Scripture is not rated PG and neither are most good films. I haven't seen this particular movie (looks like one giant cliche), but I tire of you judgmental Christians who have nothing better to do than speak gibberish Christianese and cast stones at those who have a different standard than your own. Magazines don't have souls, and you have no right to judge who's losing theirs to begin with. Please use your God-given brain before you trash a magazine and those who appreciate it on their own website.

Steve

Posted: June 19, 2009 6:48 PM


This is a very immoral movie!! Ms. Frisbie doesn't mention that they take the name of Jesus in vain twice and the so called "hilarious" Betty White does a prolonged worship ritual to Mother Earth! There is also the male stripe tease dancer, thrusting his 'privates' in Margaret's face. I don't know how you can be a God fearing Christian and endorse this movie!

Bob	Posted: June 19, 2009 6:47 PM


Thanks for the warning, Jonathan. After reading CT's review I was thinking about going. After reading Plugged In, I know I saved me some money and having to walk out of a movie.

Douglas

Posted: June 19, 2009 5:31 PM

Yikes! I checked out the link, Jonathan. I agree with you, that CT has lost all moral standards for evaluating movies. Maybe this movie reviewer should have been part of the 30% of CT's staff that recently got laid off. Not only is CT losing its soul, they are losing their readers, their income, their staff...Where's Paul Robbins? Where's Harold Myra? Where's the magazine that Billy Graham founded?

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