The Proposal

I made the mistake of hearing another critic's take on this film before watching it. Because of that, I was waiting to be disappointed. Surprisingly, I was not. Sure, a lot of cliche romantic comedy scenes are inserted throughout. The story is certainly not new -- the loathe to love story has been around since the beginning of the genre; and has been far better told in films like When Harry Met Sally and Pride and Prejudice. But Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds are good enough actors that the worn out story may not feel fresh, but will be a couple of hours of welcome relief from the summer heat.

Bullock portrays Margaret, a no nonsense New York book editor that is about to be deported back to Canada after not taking care of her work visa. That is until she coerces her assistant, Andrew (Reynolds) into marrying her. In return, Andrew will get the chance to move beyond his 3 year stint as her go-to guy and get to do the job he really left his hometown of Sitka, Alaska to pursue; that of book editor and author.

So off to Sitka the "happy" couple go to attend the 90th birthday party of Andrew's "Gammy" (scene stealer Betty White). It is here that Margaret begins to get to know anything beyond the office about Andrew. While it would have been interesting to see how their co-workers would react to the "witch" of the office marrying her younger assistant, it is in the placing of Margaret far outside her element and of Andrew's chance to be in a higher position that the relationship has a place to grow.

Like Sandra Bullock's former film, While You Were Sleeping, her character is without a family of her own, and begins to fall in love not only with her male partner, but with his entire family. The similarities continue with a fear of a grandmother having a heart attack once the truth is revealed, and that revelation coming out at the altar (no I'm not spoiling anything. You will see it coming a mile away). Perhaps even the swapping of a groom is the same, at least in a metaphorical way. Margaret doesn't fall in love with Andrew's brother (lucky for him, he's an only child), but in love with a different Andrew than the one that drinks the same kind of coffee as her, just in case he spills hers and doesn't want to deal with an un-Starbucked boss.

Timing is an issue with this story. It seems completely implausible that the couple is able to fly across the country, convince his family, attend pre-wedding festivities, try to deter a determined immigration officer, and be back in New York by 9 am Monday. But timing is also a strong suit for both Bullock and Reynolds. Reynolds in particular, is the king of timing in both glances and one-liners, that has the audience completely swept up in the moment, regardless of the absurdity of it. Having that delivery to play against is what makes Bullock's fish-out-of-water story more believable than others, Renee Zellweger's in New in Town for example.

No, this film is not for everyone. But if you are looking for some light romantic comedy fun, this is one to see. Consider it the Transformers 2 of chick flicks; not the best or most realistic movie you will ever see, but entertaining for entertainment's sake. And at the beginning of summer, what more could you ask for?

Away We Go

A movie starring The Office heartthrob John Krasinski and SNL alum Maya Rudolph might evoke images of slapstick comedy. To be sure, there are a lot of comedic moments throughout the film; however, an extended improv sketch this film is not. Instead, this is a story about a couple trying to find the right place to raise their daughter while trying their best not to be total screw-ups.

When Burt's (Krasinski) parents tell the expectant couple that they are moving to Belgium a month before the baby's due date, the couple decide to find a place that will be close to people they know that can help them wade through the fear of being completely responsible for a child's life and well-being. Thus begins their cross-country journey to family and friends stretched out across the States and even up into Canada, in search for a new place to call home.

Each visit brings a cast of characters that show just how screwed up everybody is, regardless of how "normal" they come across thousands of miles away. The supporting cast, including Allison Janney and Jim Gaffigan bring a lot of humor to the adventure, but Maggie Gyllenhaal takes dysfunctional to a whole new level with her character "LN"; a hippie professor from family money who feels the need to share her kooky observations on parenting and her breastmilk with any child willing. Bringing a heavier hand to the plot are old college friends Tom (Chris Messina) and Munch (Melanie Lynskey) Garnett who seem like the ideal family with their many adopted kids, until disclosing a heartbreaking series of miscarriages have kept them from having a biological child.

Director Sam Mendes does a great job of mixing humor and honesty throughout. Like most road trip stories, the ending is not the destination; the heart lies within the journey it takes to get there. Overall this is an independent film that feels like one; it doesn't try to live in a mainstream world of quick fixes and cheap laughs. It is a realistic portrayal of a grown-up love story; a snippet in time where everything is uncertain except the love that is shared.