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Tell Others About This Page By Using This Button "THE PROPOSAL" (2009) (Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Mild Minor Heavy Moderate None Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild None Minor Moderate Moderate Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Extreme None Heavy Moderate Minor QUICK TAKE: Romantic Comedy: After ordering him to marry her to avoid being deported back to Canada, a demanding publishing editor and her long-suffering personal assistant have one weekend to get to know each other to convince an immigration official that their romance is true. PLOT: Margaret Tate (SANDRA BULLOCK) is such a feared editor-in-chief at a NYC publishing firm that most of her staff takes cover or runs the other way whenever she passes by. That is, except for Andrew Paxton (RYAN REYNOLDS), her personal assistant for the past three years who takes her abuse in hopes of getting his own work published. But things change after she fires Bob Spaulding (AASIF MANDVI) for failing to do his job up to her standards. And that's because her visa has expired and she's to be deported back to Canada where she won't be able to return for a year or telework for an American company. Desperate for a quick solution, she suddenly announces to her bosses that she and Andrew are engaged, much to the latter's surprise, although he plays along with the unexpected ruse. That includes going down to the local immigration office where they encounter Mr. Gilbertson (DENIS O'HARE), a marriage fraud investigator who's suspicious of their reported engagement. With just a weekend to prepare for an examination by Mr. Gilbertson that he thinks will expose their fraud -- and thus result in Margaret's deportation and Andrew's imprisonment -- the "couple" head to Sitka, Alaska to celebrate the 90th birthday of his Grandma Annie (BETTY WHITE). Having heard horror stories about Margaret, she and Andrew's parents, Grace (MARY STEENBURGEN) and Joe (CRAIG T. NELSON), are surprised he's brought his boss along for the party, and are then floored -- as is Andrew's ex-girlfriend, Gertrude (MALIN AKERMAN) -- upon learning of the engagement. While Grace and Annie quickly warm to the idea, including taking Margaret to their version of a bachelorette party with the small town's lone exotic dancer, Ramone (OSCAR NUŅEZ), Joe is suspicious, no doubt fueled by the father and son not seeing eye to eye for some time now. From that point on, and despite not really liking each other, Margaret and Andrew then begin to have a change of heart as they continue their ruse as an engaged couple. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of romantic comedies and/or anyone in the cast, it's a good bet they will. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For sexual content, nudity and language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: SANDRA BULLOCK plays a steely, demanding and much-feared editor-in-chief at a publishing firm who orders Andrew to marry her -- to avoid being deported back to Canada -- or else loose his job. She initially has a condescending attitude toward Andrew, his family and everything to do with Sitka, but all of that is a front to mask her insecurities and eventually fades as she finds herself unwinding and falling for Andrew. She uses some profanity. RYAN REYNOLDS plays her long-suffering personal assistant who puts up with her demands and behavior in hopes of getting his own work published someday. After she blackmails him into the fake marriage and he goes along with that to keep his job despite the potential jail time for fraud, he turns the tables on her a bit. He has a strained relationship with his father and finds himself falling for Margaret. He uses some profanity. MARY STEENBURGEN plays Andrew's mom who quickly warms to the idea of the pending nuptials, but is displeased that her husband isn't supportive of their son. She briefly drinks. CRAIG T. NELSON plays Andrew's dad who's shocked by and suspicious of his son's surprise engagement, leading to further father-son tension between the two. He drinks a little. BETTY WHITE plays Andrew's hip 90-year-old grandmother who's enthusiastic about her grandson's pending nuptials, including that of their sex life. DENIS O'HARE plays an immigration investigator who's sure Margaret and Andrew are faking their engagement to prevent her pending deportation, and thus sets out to prove that fraud (and does so with glee). MALIN AKERMAN plays Andrew's ex-girlfriend who still lives in Sitka. OSCAR NUŅEZ plays Sitka's lone exotic dancer who performs for Margaret at her bachelorette party, but also serves several other roles in the small town. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a quick look at the content found in this romantic comedy that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 2 "s" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered, and some song lyrics might be offensive to some viewers. Sexually related dialogue is present, a woman is twice seen fully nude save for barely covering her crotch and chest areas with her hand & arm, while she also runs into a fully nude man in that same state (both bare butts are viewed, but no genitals). A male stripper is seen doing his thing (played for comedy), there's a reference to an unseen erection while a couple cuddles in bed, and there's some other sexual and bodily related humor. A few scenes (a dog in danger, a woman falling overboard a boat, a grandmother seemingly having a heart attack) might be unsettling and/or suspenseful to some viewers. Some behavior might be enticing for some kids to imitate. Drinking occurs in several scenes, there's a tiny bit of crude humor, and some bad attitudes are present, including breaking the law as well as those related to tense family material. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's briefly some bouncy camerawork showing POV footage going through a woods-based bicycle course. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE People drink at a party, including Joe who says he needs another, and Grace who holds a glass of wine. Upon news of the engagement, champagne is opened. Joe sarcastically asks Margaret what editors do beyond taking writers out and getting bombed. About Margaret going on about an eagle, the family dog and her cell phone, Andrew asks her, "Are you drunk?" (she isn't). People drink in a bar including Margaret, Grace, Annie and Gertrude who have beer in front of them. Later, Gertrude comes outside to talk to Margaret (who's poured out what looked like some sort of tropical drink) and carries a beer. We see a beer by Joe as he watches TV. BLOOD/GORE Among the various things Andrew has had to do for her, Margaret mentions "midnight Tampax runs." In a bunch of short comedy bits during the end credits where Andrew and Margaret respond to Mr. Gilbertson's questions, Margaret states she's never farted in front of Andrew and never will. But Andrew then says she farts in her sleep. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Office workers type and forward the text message "It's here" referring to Margaret's arrival at the office and "The witch is on her broom." Margaret is a steely and demanding boss who's made everyone afraid of her, except for Andrew who nevertheless must put up with her demands and abuse, such as telling him, "If I want your praise, I'll ask you for it." After Margaret fires a man for not doing his job up to her standards, he goes on a tirade about her and her personality, including calling her a "poisonous bitch." She then replies with a slam on him and the time he spent cheating on his wife. To try to get around being deported back to Canada over her expired visa, Margaret lies to her bosses that she and Andrew are engaged, blackmails him into going along with that ruse, and the two then lie to both Mr. Gilbertson with the INS (meaning they're committing a crime) and his family. Margaret cuts in line at an immigration office, telling the worker there she's sure they're busy with gardeners and delivery boys. Annie jokingly asks Margaret if she prefers to be called Margaret or "Satan's mistress." Joe sarcastically asks Margaret what editors do beyond taking writers out and getting bombed. About Andrew bringing Margaret to their home, Joe sarcastically tells his son he never imagined the latter would sleep his way to the middle. Despite being told to not allow the small family dog outside for fear of eagles swooping down and snatching it, Margaret leaves the door open while on a call, thus allowing the dog outside. An eagle then flies down and grabs the pooch, with Margaret chasing after it and then catching the dog when the eagle lets go. The eagle then swoops down again, this time getting Margaret's cell phone, and she then offers the dog (held up in the air) as a trade (all played for laughs). Some viewers might be offended by Annie doing some Indian style chanting around a fire in the woods while wearing a Native American type shawl, but we later learn she's part Native American way back in her family line. FRIGHTENING SCENES Despite being told to not allow the small family dog outside for fear of eagles swooping down and snatching it, Margaret leaves the door open while on a call, thus allowing the dog outside. An eagle then flies down and grabs the pooch, with Margaret chasing after it and then catching the dog when the eagle lets go. The eagle then swoops down again, this time getting Margaret's cell phone, and she then offers the dog (held up in the air) as a trade (all played for laughs). Upset about being reminded of her loss of family long ago, Margaret races off in a boat, surprising Andrew. She continues out to sea, but then suddenly gets up and away from the steering wheel, prompting Andrew to have to grab that. But he then has to swerve to avoid a buoy, with that sudden move sending Margaret falling overboard. We already heard her state she can't swim, and she yells that out in a panic as Andrew circles around to rescue her. She eventually grabs the buoy and he then pulls her to safety in the boat. SPOILER ALERT: As Joe and Andrew argue, Annie appears to have a heart attack and collapses. She's then rushed off on a stretcher with oxygen in a seaplane, and appears ready to die after she gets her son and grandson to promise to get along, but then reveals that she faked the entire thing. GUNS/WEAPONS None, but commenting about Margaret, Andrew says she's about as subtle as a gun. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Touch my ass one more time and I'll cut your balls off in your sleep," "I'm a bit chesty," "Let's see if we can find your boobs," "You have to give the baby maker a rest tonight," "Thank you, captain obvious," "If I want your praise, I'll ask you for it," "It's like Christmas in a cup," "The witch is on her broom," "You poisonous bitch," "Throw you out on your ass," "Pissed," "You're screwed," "Satan's mistress," "Broad," "Who are you people?" "Will require you to stop snacking on children while they dream," "Hell of a first impression," "What the hell /are you doing/is with that/were you thinking?" "About as subtle as a gun," "Oh crap," "Are you drunk?" "Smack that ass," "You jumped me out of nowhere," "You're a freak," "Shut up," "Bitch," "Screwing it up," "A gigantic pain in my ass" and "Drag-ola." A waiter pops a large hors d'oeuvre into Margaret's mouth. While trying to chew that, she does a spit take with it (out onto the waiter) upon hearing Andrew announce to his family and friends that they're engaged. Margaret tries using a handheld hair dryer to scare away the family's small and cute dog (but the dog just lets the air blow in its face). We see that Margaret has a tattoo on her back. Grace knocks on the bedroom door to serve Margaret and Andrew breakfast in bed. But with her in bed and Andrew on the floor, Margaret realizes that will blow their ruse, so she throws a pillow at Andrew to wake him up. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A little bit of suspenseful music plays in several scenes. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) The song "Relax" repeats what could be the sexually related lyric "When you want to come." Margaret sings bits of a rap song with some non-explicit but sexually related lyrics about "bitches," "balls" and what sounded like "skank" and "wiggle it," all of which is played for laughs. PROFANITY At least 2 "s" words, 1 slang term for breasts ("boobs"), 1 possible slang term using male genitals (what sounded like "p*cker"), 6 hells, 5 asses, 4 craps, 13 uses of "Oh my God," 3 of "Oh God," 2 of "God" and 1 use each of "For Christ's sakes," "For God's sakes," "For the love of God," "Godforsaken" and "Jesus." SEX/NUDITY We see Andrew shirtless. Margaret shows some cleavage. Andrew playfully puts his hand on Margaret's clothed butt in her work skirt (to steady her, but also to get away with doing that) as she descends a ladder toward him. About Andrew bringing Margaret to their home, Joe sarcastically tells his son he never imagined the latter would sleep his way to the middle. Margaret shows some cleavage. Partygoers socially coerce Andrew and Margaret into kissing for them, and they reluctantly do (having never done so before, especially as boss and subordinate), but then seem to be positively affected by that. Grace informs Andrew and Margaret that she and Annie are under no assumptions that the couple doesn't sleep together and thus can stay in one bedroom, with Annie pointing out a handmade quilt nicknamed "the baby-maker." Margaret tells Andrew to close his eyes as she comes out of the bathroom and passes by him (on the floor) to get in bed in her silky and small pajama bottoms and camisole type top. Later, as she crawls about on the bed searching for her ringing phone, she's on all fours in the same attire, thus showing just a little bare butt cheek. Playing up their engagement bit, Andrew hugs Margaret, rubs her clothed butt in her robe, and then pats her there as well. That prompts her to inform him that if he touches her "ass" one more time, "I'll cut your balls off in your sleep." Grace, Annie and Gertrude embarrass Margaret by having a male stripper perform for her at a bar in public for her bachelorette party (all as the song "Relax" plays and repeats what could be the sexually related lyric "When you want to come"). Ramone (the town's lone stripper, just average looking, not the usually buff type) removes his shirt and dances about, with a woman and then Annie tucking money into the waistband of the long pants he's still wearing. He then strips them off, revealing a Speedo type bottom (pouch in front, full coverage in the rear) that he playfully dances about in and thrusts near an appalled/disgusted Margaret. Other women yell out for her to smack him on the "ass," so she reluctantly does, with him continuing the show, including having his crotch (and related hair down there) near her face and lying on the floor with his legs spread, etc. We see some shirtless male boxers on TV. Margaret finishes showering (nothing seen) and then realizes she has no towel. She then exits the shower and goes over to the vanity (we see her bare back and a mirror reflection of her front, but her hair and the steam obscure any view of her breasts). But all she finds is what looks like the equivalent of a cloth mitt that she then holds over her barely covered crotch while her one arm is across her chest, but she's otherwise seen fully nude. We then see her trying to get rid of the small family dog while nude (nothing explicit seen), while unbeknownst to her, Andrew has returned from exercising (with headphones on) and strips down outside, fully nude (we see him from the torso up). He then enters the room from the outside (not realizing she's there) just as she runs out from the bathroom to get away from the dog, resulting in the two running into each other, face to face, fully nude. We see a full side view shot of them nude (sides of bare butts), with her then accidentally falling onto him that way (nothing explicit seen) before scrambling off him. She's briefly seen with just her hand barely covering her crotch and one arm across her chest (again, otherwise fully nude) before ducking behind the bed where she throws (and comments on) the "baby-maker" quilt aside. She comments on him being fully nude and everything being seen (but we don't see it) and he complains that she jumped him out of nowhere and asks why she's wet. This is all played for embarrassment-based comedy rather than any sort of eroticism. Margaret confesses various details about her life to Andrew, including that she hasn't slept with a man for one and a half years. Moments later, he states he can't believe it's been 18 months and she's shocked that's all he focused on. Grace knocks on the bedroom door to serve Margaret and Andrew breakfast in bed. But with her in bed and Andrew on the floor, Margaret realizes that will blow their ruse, so she throws a pillow at Andrew to wake him up and get him in bed with her (both in nightclothes). He does and she tells him to spoon her, so he does, but she then reacts and asks what that is (referring to an unseen erection), with him saying it's the morning. Communing with Mother Nature, Annie asks that Margaret and Andrew's loins be abundantly fertile. Annie also does some Indian style chanting around a fire in the woods, and gets Margaret to join her. Margaret then segues that into dancing and sashaying about to a rap song she sings (with the camera focusing on her clothed butt while doing so and partially bent over), with some non-explicit but sexually related lyrics about "bitches," "balls" and what sounded like "skank" and "wiggle it." All of that's played for laughs. Annie insists that Margaret wear her old wedding dress, and Margaret then walks out in it. It's very traditional and non-revealing, but has large floppy areas over the chest area. Annie explains that she's a bit "chesty" and was "knocked up" at the time of her wedding, and then feels around Margaret's chest through the dress, saying, "Let's see if we can find your boobs," that it's like an Easter egg hunt, and then that she found them (all while groping her). About Andrew and Margaret needing to be apart on the night before their wedding, Annie takes the "baby-maker" quilt out of the room, jokingly telling them they need to give that a rest for a night. Andrew states that things changed for Margaret when she saw him naked. She replies that she didn't see anything, but he says that she did. Andrew and Margaret passionately kiss while clothed. In a bunch of short comedy bits during the end credits where Andrew and Margaret respond to Mr. Gilbertson's questions, we hear him ask about their position, specifying that as top or bottom, with Andrew then repeating that. SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES We hear that Margaret's parents died when she was 16 and she has no immediate family. About Andrew bringing Margaret to their home, Joe sarcastically tells his son he never imagined the latter would sleep his way to the middle. There's continued tension between Andrew and Joe, with the latter obviously not happy with his son's choices in life (which we later learn also include not wanting to take over the family businesses). Grace is mad at Joe for the way he's treating their son. Joe apologizes to Andrew about the way he's acted, but they have a falling out again, and Andrew storms off, saying his acceptance of the apology is now rejected. Andrew isn't happy with his dad upon learning he's brought Mr. Gilbertson to Sitka to offer the couple one last chance to tell the truth. SPOILER ALERT: As Joe and Andrew argue, Annie appears to have a heart attack and collapses. She's then rushed off on a stretcher with oxygen in a seaplane, and appears ready to die after she gets her son and grandson to promise to get along, but then reveals that she faked the entire thing. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Dealing with demanding and/or demeaning bosses. Margaret concocting a fake marriage to Andrew in order to avoid being deported back to Canada. Andrew and his father clashing over the son's choices in life. We hear that Margaret's parents died when she was 16 and she has no immediate family, all of which has led to her steely demeanor. VIOLENCE An office worker pushing a cart accidentally runs into Andrew, causing him to spill the coffee he's carrying. Margaret whacks Andrew. Upset at his dad, Andrew whales away with an ax on a wooden boat that's still being carved into shape. Reviewed June 15, 2009 / Posted June 19, 2009

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