Issue Date: September 27, 2009
"The Proposal"
A career expert gives a performance evaluation of this office romance hit.
The Plot
Ruthless publishing exec Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) is getting deported back to her native Canada. Her solution? Blackmail handsome Alaskan-born assistant Andrew (Ryan Reynolds) into marrying her so she can get a green card. He despises her but agrees to do it in return for a promotion. It's just a business deal -- until they fall for each other.
Our Insider
"Good Morning America"'s workplace contributor, Tory Johnson, knows her way around the office. She's the founder and CEO of Women for Hire, which provides career advancement services for women, and the author of several books on job-related issues, including the recently released "Fired to Hired."
OVERVIEW
"You certainly see bits and pieces of any real workplace in "The Proposal." There are bosses whom everybody dislikes, and it's uncomfortable when they're around, so you can relate to that. It's one reason why we laugh at this movie."
WITCHY WOMAN
"Margaret definitely plays into every stereotype of the ambition-above-all single female executive, from her oh-so-picky Starbucks order to an irritable staff that loathes her presence. Fortunately, it doesn't mirror the reality of every female boss."
GETTING FIRED
"In one of my first jobs, I was fired. It was cold. I was told, 'You have 30 minutes to leave the building.' I was as stunned as Bob [another office underling] was when Margaret walked into his office to fire him. And I got a bit of a vicarious thrill when he takes her head off in front of everybody. I think audiences, especially in this economy, can relate to that."
STICKING IT TO THE MEN
"There was one equal-opportunity moment in the scene where Margaret announces she's marrying her assistant, and the two male bosses raise their eyebrows. She cuts them off with a swift retort: 'It wouldn't be the first time we fell for our own secretaries, right?' That was certainly a priceless little moment."
THE REAL MEASURE OF SUCCESS
"We watch Margaret go from tough to tender, and it's a timely message that there's more to life than big titles and professional power. To truly be happy and successful, you should be surrounded by people who are there for you."
-- Vi-An Nguyen
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