The Proposal: Create a movie where the plot involves a Canadian executive working in the U.S. being threatened with deportation, and her escape route is pressuring her assistant to marry her.
Rare is the opportunity for a mainstream movie to mention Canada in any significant fashion. But Canada plays a role in the new Sandra Bullock movie, "The Proposal."
I sacrificed mightily last year to see "The Love Guru" to bring you this Canadian-related chapter. I didn't have to pay to see that movie, but my time was spent nevertheless. But I'm having a hard time with the idea of seeing this movie, especially if I have to pay for it.
Unlike last year's movie, Canada has a small role in this film. None of the movie takes place in Canada. And we have the ironic casting of having Sandra Bullock try to fake her way at being Canadian, while Ryan Reynolds, who is Canadian, gets to play the American.
We are supposed to believe that Bullock's character carelessly let her visa expire. Her character is supposed to be from Toronto, which likely means the writers et al. feel like they don't have to assign her any Canadian traits, like a Molson bottle on her desk or a hockey stick hanging up on her wall.
"The Proposal" doesn't seem worth $10 or even the matinee price of $6.75 (all U.S.) to find out whether Sandra Bullock can act like she knows anything about Canada or whether her or the writers asked Reynolds for pointers about the Great White North.
Perhaps I will get the courage to see the movie to weigh in. Maybe there will be actual tidbits, such as Bullock's character might say "eh," cry out for a 2-4, or even know who Don Cherry is.
If you believe this thread at imdb.com, some Canadian theatres refuse to carry the movie. Maybe they know something I don't.
I've met a number of Canadians living in Chicago, and while they pass, if you engage them, they have a fondness for things back home. This might have something to do with Bullock's acting talents, but I don't think she can pull that off. And they certainly would know when their visas would expire.
If all of this is true, the writers could have said she was from Switzerland or Luxembourg or Belgium. Then again, perhaps we should be flattered they chose Canada, but that flattery would disintegrate in thin air if it's not believable.
Say what you will about "The Love Guru," but the Canadian parts came from an authentic place in Mike Myers. If "The Proposal" has an ounce of authenticity, I would gladly pay $10 to see it. Otherwise, I'll wait for the rental price.
But maybe I'm wrong. If you've seen the film, let me know in the comments section if I'm being pig-headed or short-sighted. Or maybe I'm right on target.
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