Sandra Bullock hates doing romantic comedies.  After years of making a significant mark in the genre starring in films like "Hope Floats", "Miss Congeniality" and "Two Weeks Notice"... Bullock had sworn she'd never again do a romantic comedy ever again.

    That is, until she received the script for her latest film, "The Proposal".   So, what is it about this seemingly cookie cutter copy of the genre... that caused one of the few women in Hollywood that can still, albeit reluctantly, lay claim to the title, "America's Sweetheart"  to change her mind?

    In "The Proposal", Bullock discovers a role that she found to be different in her mind, from her past comedic on-screen characters.  Bullock plays Margaret Tate, a strong, mercilessly ambitious... and supremely bitchy book editor for a large Manhattan publishing house. 

    Ryan Reynolds plays Andrew, her subservient, overworked assistant who answers Bullock's every professional whim and order.  Andrew willingly suffers her demands, putdowns and indignities in hopes of an eventual promotion to editor... and the fulfillment of his own dream to be an author.

    However, the plot thickens when on the verge of closing a huge deal, Margaret finds out a small error on a business trip out of the country... violated her status as a Canadian working in the US.  Suddenly, the power executive finds herself powerless... and facing deportation back to Canada because of an issue with her visa.   Her solution ?  She coerces her assistant Andrew to marry her temporarily to keep his job.   But, Andrew also has a card to play and demands Margaret propose to him... and promote him to editor... or he'll refuse the sham and leave her to the mercy of the INS.

    However, things get more complicated when Andrew takes Margaret to visit his parents ( Mary Steenbergen and Craig T. Nelson ) and attend Andrew's grandmother's birthday ( Betty White )... leaving Margaret to discover some surprising things about the assistant she only depended on for her own needs.  Turns out, Andrew's family is not only wealthy... but also, he doesn't hail from familiar Manhattan... but instead, the remote pines of a quaint Alaskan town called Sitka. 

    Unexpectedly, Margaret announces to Andrew's family their plans to get married... who, in turn - surprise both of them by having the marriage the next day on Grandma's birthday.   What transpires next are the typical, chaotic hijinks one comes to expect from a romantic comedy of this nature... complete with a mix of expected cliched moments typical of the genre... but also, some inspired funny bits that are effective primarily due to the very palpable chemistry between Bullock and Reynolds.

    One particularly funny and inspired moment is a comedic full-out nude scene between the duo... as they literally bump into one another, naked and beforehand unaware the other is in the same room with them

     As the film progresses, the chemistry between Margaret and Andrew becomes more apparent... as Margaret's rougher personality edges soften amid his family's genuine excitement and instant loving acceptance of Andrew's sham fiance'.   She discovers within his family an affection and a vulnerability she long buried in her quest for professional success in New York.  

     Additionally, Some of the best comedic moments are provided by the always reliable Betty White.  Her knack with the unexpected, sometime risque one-liner always manages to bring a smile or laugh to audiences.  White is comedic "money in the bank" for any film.

    Mary Steenbergen and Craig T. Nelson are enjoyable respectively as the excited mother-in-law to be... and Nelson, as the father who is disappointed in his son's choice to not remain in the family's business in Sitka.

    The driving force behind this film is Bullock.  One can see why she chose this film as her romantic comedy swan song.  Bullock still commands a skill of grand comedic timing and a willingness to throw herself full-out into physical, almost slapstick humor and moments with effectively funny results. 

   However, her book editor character, Margaret is not the damsel in distress... nor, the likable "America's Sweetheart" we've come to so closely identify with Bullock's on-screen persona in previous films.   Oh sure, Margaret softens her style as the film evolves... but, again - the chemistry between Reynolds and Bullock make the predictability of the film's third act worth the all too familiar ride to shared love.  It may be a retread at this point in the film... but, the ride is still a smooth and enjoyable one.

    I recommend if someone should ask if you want to see "The Proposal" ... definitely respond with a heartfelt - "I Do" !

"Behind The Scenes" on the set of "The Proposal"

  One of the by-products of my being an entertainment reporter... is that, underneath the serious journalistic exterior ...is also an aspiring actor waiting to burst forth and perform when the director yells, "Action" !     On occasion, I get to do just that.

    Most notably for me was being cast in a speaking role as a TV reporter by Ben Affleck for his acclaimed film, "Gone Baby Gone".   However, for every great opportunity like that one... there a dozens of others that are simply as working as a "background extra".   Often, extras are far behind the actual action... blurry human figures giving motion and emotion to any given scene... while the featured actors do their thing in close-up.

    However, occasionally - good fortune strikes even the extras... including me.  I was chosen to be an extra in a scene filmed for "The Proposal" that took place aboard a small commuter plane that would have been one of the film's key plot points.   It involved a group of passengers seated near Sandra Bullock, handcuffed to an INS agent who's been hounding she and Reynolds throughout the film.  

   At one point, comedic actress Niecy Nash who was cast as a brassy flight attendant was to deliver a message to Bullock's character.  However, the INS agent is increasingly rude, controlling and obnoxious to both Nash's character and Bullock, his helpless handcuffed prisoner.

    As the scene was to play out... I was seated just one row behind Bullock.  At one point, the exchanges between Nash and the INS agent become heated... and in a comedic flourish, Nash uses a taser to subdue the agent... and he falls into the small commuter plane aisle dragging the handcuffed Sandra bullock to the floor with him.   After that, the passengers react in surprise... and I, along with a woman extra seated across the aisle gently help Bullock... along with others - to her feet to complete the scene.

    The plane set was hot, cramped and often uncomfortable.  However, what made the day-long shoot worthwhile and so enjoyable for all was first - the joyous directing style of Anne Fletcher, which kept the cast, crew and extras in stitches laughing.  She knows what she wants, but she gets her movie set to be a smooth, light-hearted machine that's well-oiled with laughter and camaraderie. 

   Fletcher, a former dancer and choreographer would often break into dance moves... to keep the mood on this comedy set light and carefree.  It's a directing relationship that strongly appealed to all the major cast members, but most especially Bullock.

    As far as actors go... there are some who are real professionals in the biz... and of course, there are the prima donnas.  From my seat behind Sandra Bullock, I could see over the course of many hours shooting the same scene from different angles... Sandra Bullock is nothing but a consummate pro. 

    She's also a genuinely nice, down to earth person.  She must have taken well over two dozen or more falls... hard falls to the narrow, cramped airplane set aisle while handcuffed to the faux INS agent.  Yet, each time... she gave it her all with no complaints... and much good humor.

   But, the most memorable moment of the day's shoot truly showed the natural, down to earth sincerity of Sandra Bullock.   The building that housed the airplane set was surrounded by an area that was prone to insects, bugs and ticks.   So, as we all patiently awaited the next take of that particular scene... Sandra Bullock asked with some small degree of urgency for a Kleenex from a nearby production assistant.

    Only the Kleenex wasn't for Sandra... instead, she gently removed a crawling tick from the head of a long-haired extra seated in front of her.   She then made the guy feel better about the whole thing and laughed the incident off with the rest of the cast and extras.

    I know of few actors or actresses who would have shown the same grace, kindness and courtesy that Sandra Bullock showed in that circumstance.  

    She's is a very classy, "down to Earth" woman... who just happens to be a Hollywood superstar.

... oh, the airplane scene ?   It went on the cutting room floor.   That's Hollywood !

... maybe it will end up on the DVD extras.