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The Proposal: To See or Not To See

posted by Women & Hollywood
Saturday, June 20, 2009 at 6:00pm CDT

The Proposal, Sandra Bullock’s first movie in two years opens today on a little over 3,000 screens. That is a mega wide release. We are talking big mainstream Hollywood film release numbers. I haven’t seen the film. I tried but couldn’t get invited to any screenings. So unlike most weeks I will be making the same decision with you as to whether to pay to see this film.

From my glancing at reviews (I don’t really read many anymore) the film is not getting great notices. But I remember that Sex and the City got a lot of crappy reviews as did Mamma Mia so I don’t necessarily go by reviews.

Here is what I am using to make my decision.

Con- On the surface (from the preview and commercials) the movie looks really stupid and regressive. Woman plays bitchy boss and forces her assistant to marry her so she doesn’t get deported to Canada. Yikes. It looks dreadful so much so when I saw the preview this past winter I wrote this post: What’s Up With Sandra Bullock’s Career?

But the press over the last couple of weeks, especially from Sandra Bullock has softened me.

Pro: Sandra Bullock. She’s still a woman who can open a film and she’s also been really honest about why she hasn’t been in a film in a while. The scripts have sucked. Not too many women are that honest. So major points to her.

This movie is easily going to make $20 million this weekend and that would be Bullock’s biggest opening yet. Disney and all the folks associated with the film are doing everything to convince the public that this is a “date movie” to bring in the guys and I think the message is working. If they could get a split of 50/50 or even 55/45 between women and men that would be a great sign that a movie that stars a woman can being in men.

Here’s what she had to say about romantic comedies:

…the 44-year-old actress now says she “can’t stand” romantic comedies because most of the scripts she reads from the genre are terrible and feature underdeveloped female characters. “I always read scripts and go, ‘I want to change the role of Sam to Samantha because it’s written better,’” (Wall Street Journal)

and

“They’re not funny, they’re not romantic, they’re not written well for women anymore,” she says, explaining her decision in typically no-bull fashion. “It was basically all crap. I did the last good one. I’m done.” (USA Today)

“This is basically a guy’s film,” says Ms. Bullock, who was an executive producer on the movie, “except I’m the guy.” (Wall Street Journal)

Pro: It’s directed by a woman — Anne Fletcher. A woman directing a film that is playing on over 3,000 screens. Extremely rare. Happens maybe once or twice a year. Fletcher might now be known for her romantic comedies but she’s ready for the straight comedies:

I want to do one of those movies because I know I can and they make me laugh. I want to be a woman who says, “Yeah, I made that movie.” But it would have to appeal to me. There are certain male-driven films that cross a line for me. I don’t know if I could put my name on it. (Forbes)

Pro: Betty White – the woman’s been in the business for 60 years. How can you not love her.

All the above does not say one thing about the content of the film. But then again how many times do you go see movies that stars men knowing all about it? Probably not too often. So for me, the pros — a woman star, AND a woman director — who actually like and respect each other have pushed me towards this film. This quote from Bullock in USA Today made me laugh out loud:

…they said, ‘Here’s this woman director we like, Anne Fletcher. Can she come and meet you?’ I met her and within five minutes, she said the word ‘vagina,’ and I’m like (her voice rising giddily), ‘I love her.’ “

I know I am a broken record on this but it is my job to remind you need to support films by and about women. We. just. do. I wish we lived in a world where they don’t need our help but they do. If this movie does $25 or $30 million that would be a great sign, even though sadly, it will still probably be dismissed as a fluke.

She’s the Boss (Wall Street Journal)

Something for the Ladies (Forbes)

Sandra Bullock is (bleeping) tired of romantic comedies (USA Today)