The Proposal 2009

Ben Lyons, At the Movies: Believability really goes out the window here. Read more

Manohla Dargis, New York Times: Like most Hollywood romantic comedies these days, The Proposal is all about bringing a woman to her knees. Read more

Andrea Gronvall, Chicago Reader: [A] buoyant vehicle for Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, whose chemistry is a happy surprise. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: The Proposal coasts along on likability, right up to its standard-issue ending; what it doesn't do is surprise us in any way. Read more

Keith Phipps, AV Club: Following 27 Dresses, this is the second high-concept, low-impact, wedding-themed comedy in 18 months for choreographer-turned-director Anne Fletcher. It might be time to move on. Read more

Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: So we've got a prodigal son who has the chance to deal with his father issues and discover things about his heretofore evil boss. It's like a romantic-comedy cliche twofer. Read more

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: Why a screenwriter would think hilarity would ensue from this premise is anybody's guess. Read more

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: The problem is not the acting. The problem is what these actors are required to say and do. Read more

Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle: It isn't a film with a lot of big guffaws, but I smiled through most of it. Read more

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor: Instead of being about dinosaurs and time warps, it's about gags that were old when dinosaurs ruled the earth. Read more

Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: The script encases Margaret in rusted defenses from which it can't free her without awkward leaps and cheats. Read more

Tom Long, Detroit News: A straight-ahead romantic comedy that relies on the considerable charms of its stars, The Proposal feels so comfortable and familiar you might feel like you've seen it before. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: The chemical energy between Bullock and Reynolds is fresh and irresistible. Read more

Amy Nicholson, I.E. Weekly: Thanks to casting and chemistry, this is the first great romantic comedy of the summer. Read more

Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: The Proposal is just a good old-fashioned romance, one in which people actually bring out the best in one another rather than the worst. How novel is that? Read more

Rafer Guzman, Newsday: Somehow, someone decided this rom-com needed less rom and more com -- a fatal mistake. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: A mostly harmless, completely unsurprising romantic comedy. Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: It's impossible to guess why Bullock was ever attracted to this insulting role, and the eternally confident Reynolds is miscast as a young, bullied underling. Read more

Lou Lumenick, New York Post: Shamelessly derivative, contrived and predictable, The Proposal is nonetheless a crowd-pleasing romantic comedy. Read more

Sara Vilkomerson, New York Observer: Bullock is one of those actresses that help prove that, when done right, a romantic comedy can be a wonderfully satisfying thing. Read more

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: Bullock's longtime fans should be happy to see her fully engaged in a role that suits her and paired, at last, with her comic equal: Reynolds. Read more

Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: The setup is formula, but Bullock and Reynolds supply surprising fizz and kick. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: The Proposal is a standard-order, by-the-book romantic comedy that offers nothing remotely fresh or new while following a formula even neophytes know by heart. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: The Proposal recycles a plot that was already old when Tracy and Hepburn were trying it out. You see it coming from a great distance away. As it draws closer, you don't duck out of the way, because it is so cheerfully done, you don't mind being hit by it. Read more

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: A romantic comedy so numbing it feels like Novocaine. Read more

Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com: A romantic comedy doesn't need to be original to be enjoyable, and yet The Proposal still falls way too short of the mark. Read more

Kara Nesvig, Minneapolis Star Tribune: And though Bullock and Reynolds have snappy chemistry to spare, their love affair stops just shy of being believable. There are too many awkward 'tender' moments and not enough vigor for a real romance. Read more

Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: The Proposal could have been much smarter, and much hipper. Instead, it settles for silliness and sentimentality. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: Onscreen chemistry is an elusive notion but you know it when you see it, and Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds definitely have it in The Proposal. Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: Nobody who ever attended a date movie will be surprised by what happens, but The Proposal has low expectations and good vibes in its favour. Read more

Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out: Read more

David Jenkins, Time Out: They may as well have called this one 'Mis-Matched Sham Wedding Comedy #57513' for all the effort it makes to shake new life out of a tattered genre. Read more

Claudia Puig, USA Today: Though it falls short of winning our hearts completely, The Proposal is a serviceable and intermittently funny romance made enjoyable by the sparks between Bullock and Reynolds. Read more

Brian Lowry, Variety: The Proposal won't catch any bouquets for originality, but in terms of a bended-knee pitch for the affections of women this romantic comedy pretty much pulls out all the stops. Read more

Robert Wilonsky, Village Voice: You know every tinny beat and false note by heart, from the implausible setup to the sprint-to-the-airport finish. Read more

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: Just looking at the poster for The Proposal, a by-the-numbers romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, tells you exactly how it's all gonna go down. Read more