theproposal - Jezebel

posts about #theproposal more →
Critics Find The Proposal Unengaging, Formulaic
Flicks For Chicks Compete Against Big-Budget Blockbusters
Someone Really, Really Really Wants You To Go See The Proposal
The Proposal's Premiere: Worthy Of The Movie. (Interpret Accordingly.)
Sandra Bullock Thinks Ryan Reynolds Is High-Larious

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KittyKittyCat
06/19/09

In reply to Critics Find The Proposal Unengaging, Formulaic
Why did Reel Films have to snark on Bullock's age? 10 years past being a romcom star? Well since you hate them so much, how would you know anyway?

I'm not really a Bullock or romcom fan, but I actually sort of wanted to see this. Too bad I am beyond broke. Netflix!
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Luckwouldhaveit
06/19/09

In reply to Critics Find The Proposal Unengaging, Formulaic
I am so tired of the critics picking picking picking at "chick flick" movies as formulaic and predictable, etc. When was the last time a big action flick surprised you? Gee, did the action hero man get the girl? Did the good guy Americans win out over the evil foreigners/aliens/gigantor-robots-that-can-transform-right-before-your-eyes? Was there a catch phrase uttered by our hero that now every male between the ages of 12 to 72 will repeat ad nauseum for a cheap laugh?

Yes, sometimes men (women too) just want a good action flick to entertain them. I like a chick flick once in a while. I want witty banter and flirting, and a female character with qualities that I can relate to, plus some cute clothes and a cute love interest. The Wedding Date would never win an Oscar, but I will watch it over and over again, whenever I get control of the remote. So there, Hollywood. Bring on The Proposal.
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jigglyball
06/19/09

@Luckwouldhaveit: Dude, you bring up a really good point. I don't love chick flicks simply because they're not always my thing, but as far as your first paragraph, why haven't I thought of that before?
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applejuice
06/19/09

@Luckwouldhaveit: I always take movie reviews with a grain of salt. I think the freakin' reviewer probably watches loads of movies a week and has a totally skewed view. In my mind they are sitting their with their arms out, motioning in with their hands and saying to the film "Come on, impress me! Show me what you've got!" They are just itching to find stuff wrong.

Their midset is totally different to the average person and I think that their experience of a movie is usually not the same as that of your average viewer.
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Triana Orpheus
06/19/09

In reply to Critics Find The Proposal Unengaging, Formulaic
I'll catch this movie when it comes on USA. Characters Welcome.
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tiredfairy
06/19/09

In reply to Critics Find The Proposal Unengaging, Formulaic
Honestly, I'd rather see Away We Go again. It's lovely, sweet, genuine, and doesn't hit any of the stereotypical rom com notes. And yet is romantic and funny.

And no, it's not either Juno for the 30-somethings or even particularly "quirky". It's just really, really, really, really good. I haven't seen a relationship that realistic in a long time.
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jigglyball
06/19/09

@tiredfairy: WHERE IS IT PLAYING IN SAN DIEGO?!??! I looked for it everywhere a couple of weekends ago, had no luck, and ended up just seeing The Hangover.
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Jack_Burton
06/19/09

@tiredfairy: Thanks! I like Sam Mendes films, so I will follow your lead on this.

For Proposal, the subplots (A/V Club): Look, there's Oscar Nuñez from The Office, stripping! And Betty White doing a tribal dance! And Craig T. Nelson grimacing paternally! And an eagle chasing a puppy! sound like the selling point here. I have no desire to relive Forces of Nature.
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Triana Orpheus
06/19/09

@tiredfairy: Aww, your review sparks my interest in seeing that movie. Hopefully, it's playing near me and I can see it before it hits DVD.
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maybeimamazed02
06/20/09

@tiredfairy: I really enjoyed Away We Go. I wasn't sure if I would--some of the previews made it seem like it was trying too hard to be QUIRKY (John Krasinski falls down!). However, the movie was lovely. Not perfect, but a great watch. And Maya Rudolph is FANTASTIC.
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SidheDragon
06/19/09

In reply to Critics Find The Proposal Unengaging, Formulaic
Years ago (the 80s) a friend of mine and I went on a foreign film jag. (circa, "Like Water For Chocolate", "The Hairdresser's Husband", "Eat, Drink, Man, Woman" era) Since then American movies have really kind of sucked for me. The French, Chinese, and Czechs make the most amazing films. Honorable mention goes to the Brits, the Aussies (Orlando), and the Italians (Farinelli). (Alas, I now live in a backwater where they have no interest in stocking foreign film at the local Blockbuster.)

American film (big studio)is ruled by money. Nothing else. Even some of the Indie stuff is suffering from the "marketability" plague. Indie film has almost become cliche. (I said "almost".) Because everyone is looking for the next Kevin Smith. And once they find him they'll give him big budgets and his shit won't stink anywhere but at the theaters. ("Dogma" is a fabulous exception.)

Point: 1. Americans don't get to actually see the good film ideas that never even make it to film. Hell, past some big shot producer's ears. 2. American film makers should take a hint from the aforementioned fabulous foreign film makers.
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applejuice
06/19/09

@SidheDragon: Those aren't 80's movies, they are all early 90's. (I only know because I saw a lot of them late high school/into college :)!)
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thesciencegirl
06/19/09

In reply to Critics Find The Proposal Unengaging, Formulaic
I can pretty much guarantee that I will see this with my chick flick club (we're a shameless threesome who go to see awful movies together).
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rocknrollunicorn
06/19/09

In reply to Critics Find The Proposal Unengaging, Formulaic
I probably talk about this constantly, but I really liked Definitely, Maybe (with Ryan Reynolds) and thought it was underrated. Plus I love most of what Sandra Bullock has done. Someone has to make inoffensive, light movies, you know.

In terms of the celibacy of female execs... um can I just get the big-bucks job to go with my unintentional lifestyle?

And in conclusion to this stream of conciousness response, I will probably watch this multiple times on cable, but my movie dollars are currently earmarked for Up!, Drag Me to Hell, and possibly The Hangover or Land of the Lost.
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jigglyball
06/19/09

@rocknrollunicorn: Definitely, Maybe was underrated, in my opinion. I actually didn't love Elizabeth Banks' performance, but I thought Ryan Reynolds was pretty great (I love when he throws take-out at the TV screen while Bill Clinton is debating the semantics of sex). And I will forever defend the merits of Just Friends.

The only thing I seriously object to in The Proposal, if the reviews are right, is the unsexing of professionally successful women. Can't we give that one a rest?
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rocknrollunicorn
06/19/09

@jigglyball: I didn't love Banks either, but I thought the other two ladies were soooooooooo awesome.
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jigglyball
06/19/09

In reply to Critics Find The Proposal Unengaging, Formulaic
And yet, I will still see it. I pretty much never fork over my dolla bills to awful chick flicks, so one mark on my conscience isn't too much for me to bear. It's just... Ryan Reynolds... naked... I just, yeah, I can't NOT see this.
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sarahchirp
06/19/09

@jigglyball: Ryan Reynolds is a douche.
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jigglyball
06/19/09

@sarahchirp: Can't say that I know him personally, so I have no comment on that front. I just think he's funny and engaging on screen, and looking at him makes me happy in my happy places.
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rocknrollunicorn
06/19/09

@jigglyball: for what it's worth, he's really funny on talk shows.
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sonofabiscuit is sprinkling greatness
06/19/09

In reply to Critics Find The Proposal Unengaging, Formulaic
I believe it's Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada, not Amanda.

I like Sandra Bullock, and The Proposal doesn't look as vaguely offensive as, say, New in Town, or whatever that Renee Zellwegger travesty is called.
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rocknrollunicorn
06/19/09

@sonofabiscuit is sprinkling greatness: OMG I bet that was a TOTAL Melrose Place mind-slip! Amanda Woodward, bitchy ad exec.
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liz.lemonade
06/18/09

In reply to Flicks For Chicks Compete Against Big-Budget Blockbusters
I love watching shit get blown up. Independence Day is *awesome*. Aliens annihilating national landmarks! WHEE!

I just have no interest in watching shit get blown up in any of this summer's lackluster movies.
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Green Goth Brit Chick - AlternatEve
06/18/09

@liz.lemonade: OMG YES THIS. Me, my mother and sister LOOOOVE Independance Day (but can't watch it with Dad cause all he does is pick the SFX apart)
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monkeydance
06/18/09

In reply to Flicks For Chicks Compete Against Big-Budget Blockbusters
I'm mostly looking forward to Cheri....but it doesn't seem to be playing anywhere near me this summer.....why do all the independent type artsy films only get limited coverage? Atonement started out in small theatres as well.

Back to topic: I love action films too...i just don't like it when they lack a plot. Lots of movies made in hollywood have lots of cars blowing up, explosions, guns, but very little plot.

I wonder if Harry Potter is considered a "dude" film or a "chick flick."

What I would really like to see is a film like The Hangover with a bunch of women...not another Sex in the City film.
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Green Goth Brit Chick - AlternatEve
06/18/09

@monkeydance: Harry Potter's probably classed as a "Teen" movie more than anything - was gonna say "kids" but it is rather dark.
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Penny_Esq
06/18/09

In reply to Flicks For Chicks Compete Against Big-Budget Blockbusters
I'm not hugely interested in seeing The Proposal, but one thing I like about it is that Sandra Bullock is 44 and Ryan Reynolds is 32. In most movies, Sandra would be cast as his mother. Nice to see that trope turned on its head.
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jigglyball
06/18/09

@Penny_Esq has a new job!: My mom is super psyched about that aspect. We're going to see this together, and I'm already steeling myself against the slew of inappropriate comments that will issue forth from her immediately after the viewing.
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jigglyball
06/18/09

@jigglyball: Not inappropriate because there's anything wrong with older women dating younger men, inappropriate because it's my mom talking about boning.
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ellaesther
06/18/09

@jigglyball: Yes, as a mom, this is a form of inappropriateness that I hope to avoid. (Though, if I recall, all it took for me to be skeeved out was for my mom to say "He's so cute!". So, the threshold may be lower for some than for others).
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Green Goth Brit Chick - AlternatEve
06/18/09

@jigglyball: Hah, reminds me of going to see the second Underworld movie with my mum - which was hilarious in itself because she was supposed to see it with my dad, so I was going on my own the night before but she got pissed off at him and turned up at the cinema to see it with me.

I have a thing for Kate Beckinsale, and about halfway through mum goes "You like her don't you". Apparently I went "MUUUUUUM!" in that "oh GODS you're embarassing" voice so loud half the room turned to shoot me dirty looks. *headdesk*
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Remedios Varo can't see no huevos.
06/18/09

In reply to Flicks For Chicks Compete Against Big-Budget Blockbusters
I'm dying to see Food, Inc. Documentaries FTW.
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sequined
06/18/09

In reply to Flicks For Chicks Compete Against Big-Budget Blockbusters
I feel like many romantic comedies/"chick flicks" are mediocre at best--haphazard writing, kind of lazy about making things realistic or fleshed-out, etc. and they end up being the kinds of movies one person sees and reports back to all her friends "it's a renter." And even if it's the best romantic comedy ever, there's nothing going on on the screen that makes it inherently better to see it bigger (except maybe Ryan Reynolds shirtless, I guess).

On the other hand, many of these male-driven action movies really reward the big-screen experience: cooler effects, awesome explosions, loud noises--all of which just don't translate as well to my 13" screen. Even if the plot sucks, I'd rather see Transporter VII in theaters than at home. They're big-screen movies.

And I wonder if this is a major part of why "guy movies" do better in theaters? Because they're theater-type movies?
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R-Star
06/18/09

In reply to Flicks For Chicks Compete Against Big-Budget Blockbusters
My friend who is really into rom-coms was saying that she thought The Proposal looked cute and she couldn't wait to see it. I responded by reminding her that it's all fun and games until you really are facing the potential inability to maintain the life you have built in another country because the government wants you to leave even though you are contributing in only a positive way and spending a fucking fortune to try to stay there.

Not that I would know about that particular scenario.
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