Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Charming romcom is best for older teens and up.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Proposal
Parent and Kid Reviews
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 heartwarming
- inappropriate nudity
- stronger themes
- parental discretion advised
- great chemistry
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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 heartwarming
- family-friendly
- suggestive humor
- great performances
- diverse audience
Summarized with AI
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?
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
- In theaters : June 19, 2009
- On DVD or streaming : October 12, 2009
- Cast : Betty White , Ryan Reynolds , Sandra Bullock
- Director : Anne Fletcher
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Touchstone Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 104 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sexual content, nudity and language
- Last updated : March 14, 2020
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate