The Proposal (2009)
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A high-powered executive faces deportation and convinces her assistant to pose as her fiancé to secure a green card.
The story
Margaret Tate, a pushy Canadian editor-in-chief at a New York City publishing house, faces deportation due to a visa violation. To keep her job, she coerces her assistant, Andrew Paxton, into a sham marriage to obtain a green card. They are forced to navigate the scrutiny of a suspicious U.S. immigration agent, Gilbertson. To maintain the ruse, they must travel to Andrew's hometown in Sitka, Alaska, to meet his family and convince them that their engagement is genuine, all while dealing with the complications of their forced proximity and the threat of legal consequences for both of them.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Margaret Tate, a demanding Canadian editor-in-chief in New York, faces deportation and convinces her assistant, Andrew Paxton, to pose as her fiancé to secure a green card. They agree to a deal where she will make him an editor if he helps her. They travel to Sitka, Alaska, to meet Andrew's wealthy family. During the trip, they are monitored by immigration agent Gilbertson. While in Alaska, they grow closer and share personal stories. Despite the fraud, they are pressured by Andrew's family to marry. Gilbertson offers them a chance to confess, but they refuse. At the wedding, Margaret eventually confesses the truth to everyone. Gilbertson gives her 24 hours to leave. Later, during a family crisis involving a faked heart attack by Andrew's grandmother, Annie, the family is reunited. Andrew and Margaret realize their feelings are real and confess their love to each other. They ultimately inform Gilbertson that they are engaged for real.
- First release year
- 2009
- Runtime (minutes)
- 107
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Anne Fletcher
- Writers
- Peter Chiarelli · writer
- Cast and characters
- Sandra Bullock · Margaret Tate; Ryan Reynolds · Andrew Paxton; Malin Åkerman · Gertrude; Craig T. Nelson · Joe Paxton; Mary Steenburgen · Grace Paxton; Betty White · Annie Paxton; Oscar Nunez · Ramone; Denis O'Hare · Mr. Gilbertson
- Themes
- fake relationships; professional ambition; family dynamics
- Tone and mood
- romantic; comedic
- Setting
- New York City and Sitka, Alaska
- Premise and plot tags
- romance; comedy; fake marriage; immigration
- Content notes
- nude scene
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances and chemistry between Bullock and Reynolds but criticized its screenplay and what was seen as a formulaic plot structure. It was a box office success.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 45% · scale: percentage · review count: 187; Metacritic · score: 48 · scale: 100 · review count: 30
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe Award · Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical · nomination
Genres
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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