Parents' Guide to The Proposal

Movie 2009 PG-13 104 minutes
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Common Sense Media Review

Sandie Angulo Chen By Sandie Angulo Chen , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

Charming romcom is best for older teens and up.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

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Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 25 parent reviews

Parents say the movie is a sweet and hilarious comedy featuring strong chemistry between the leads, though it contains numerous sexual jokes and some nudity that may be inappropriate for younger viewers. While many reviewers enjoyed the humor and the heartwarming message about family, several expressed concerns about the explicit content, suggesting it may be more suitable for older teens rather than pre-teens.humor and heartwarminginappropriate nuditystronger themesparental discretion advisedgreat chemistry
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age 12+

Based on 104 kid reviews

Kids say this movie is a heartwarming and hilarious romantic comedy that appeals to a wide audience, including families, although some viewers note it contains moments of nudity and suggestive humor. Many find the performances, particularly by the lead actors, excellent, while opinions on appropriateness for younger viewers vary, with recommendations for slightly older children due to some content.funny and heartwarmingfamily-friendlysuggestive humorgreat performancesdiverse audience
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What's the Story?

Margaret (Sandra Bullock) is a shrewish Manhattan book editor who's as feared as The Devil Wears Prada's Miranda Priestly. When Margaret's bosses inform her she's about to be deported back to her native Canada, she blackmails her faithful, exploited assistant Andrew (Ryan Reynolds) into pretending they're engaged. To convince their incredulous immigration officer, the two agree to visit Andrew's family in Alaska, where they have to put on a believable show for his entire clan. As the weekend progresses, they predictably start falling (literally) for each other.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 25 ):
Kids say ( 104 ):

There's nothing original about an uptight career woman who needs some lovin' falling for her gorgeous, put-upon assistant. But Bullock and Reynolds have a breezy chemistry that most on-screen couples never achieve. They're equally believable as boss-and-subordinate as they are as reluctant lovers. Both have finely honed comedy skills, and they're bolstered by scene-stealing supporting actors, particularly Betty White as Andrew's grandmother and Oscar Nuñez (The Office) as a jack of all trades (including exotic dancer).

Obviously, there aren't many unconventional twists to this mainstream love story. But occasionally a good ol' genre flick is well executed enough to transcend its predictable plot. Director Anne Fletcher hit the jackpot with leads who know (no doubt due to their long-term off-screen friendship) how to make each other funnier. Move over Matthew and Kate -- it's time for Sandy and Ryan to be Hollywood's new golden romcom couple.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how this movie compares to other romantic comedies. What do most Hollywood "romcoms" tend to have in common? How is this one different (if it is)?

  • Margaret isn't just Andrew's boss, but she's also clearly older than him. Is that a common scenario in romantic movies?

  • The movie's trailer prominently featured the "naked fall" scene. Did knowing about that gag make the scene any less funny? In general, do you think trailers give away too much, or just enough?

Movie Details

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