The Proposal is a 2009 American movie directed by Anne Fletcher. It is a story about an executive editor-in-chief Margaret (Sandra Bullock) who is almost deported to Canada because of violation her work visa. Being afraid of loosing her job, Margaret forces her assistant Andrew (Ryan Reynolds) to contract a fictitious marriage. Margaret and Andrew fly to Alaska to visit his parents, and Margaret better knows Andrew and changes her mind. The aim of this paper is to discuss major Social Psychology themes in The Proposal and to reveal the “turning point” that influenced the development of those themes in the plot.
The major Social Psychology themes presented in the movie are self-presentation, attitude change, love, and prejudice. The theme of self-presentation manifests itself through Margaret. Margaret sustains an image of the business woman who is dedicated to her job and is incapable of human feelings. She has her own interests but does not show them to surrounding persons. The themes of attitude change and love are key themes of the plot. At the beginning of the movie, Andrew hates Margaret but later understands that she is just a woman with her weaknesses, and her self-presentation is only a cover. At the same time, Margaret learns that Andrew is more than just her assistant. This attitude change forms a basis for love. The theme of prejudice shows itself through Margaret who is convinced that a person like her does not deserve love and family. At the end, she wants to say “yes” to Andrew’s proposal but refuses saying it would be better if she leave. She is afraid because got used to the idea she is not-nice person and will never have individual happiness.
In my opinion, the “turning point” of the movie is a change of relationship between Margaret and Andrew. They know each other better and as the result start to see each other as a real man and woman. This understanding mothers love and romantic relations.
About The Proposal, I mostly liked the humor of the movie and the way Margaret started to lose her face of the business woman. I liked the development of the relations between Margaret and Andrew and the moments when they spilled their hearts to each other. Margaret learned about Andrew through his family and, in turn, told him the things probably nobody else knew, as she “took disco lessons at the six grade” (“The Proposal”). I think that The Proposal is a great example of the romantic comedy genre.
References
Lieberman, T. (Producer), & Fletcher, A. (Director). (2009). The Proposal [Motion Picture]. The USA: Touchstone Pictures, K/O Paper Products, Mandeville Films.
