The Proposal – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Proposal

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2009

58%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Bullock and Reynolds fake-marry their way through Alaska in this predictable but charming rom-com with more stripper jokes than you'd expect.

45%

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The Proposal

movie

PG-13, 2009

58%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Bullock and Reynolds fake-marry their way through Alaska in this predictable but charming rom-com with more stripper jokes than you'd expect.

45%

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Screenwise Verdict

The Proposal is exactly what it looks like: a serviceable rom-com that coasts on the charm of its leads. Bullock and Reynolds have great timing, and there are genuinely funny moments (the naked collision, Betty White's one-liners, the eagle attack). The story hits all the expected beats—you can see every plot point coming from Alaska.

The sexual content is more prominent than you might expect for a mainstream rom-com. The stripper scene goes on longer than necessary, and the bathroom nudity moment, while played for laughs, is still pretty explicit for PG-13. Parents of younger teens should know what they're getting into.

The underlying message about choosing authenticity over ambition is nice, but let's not pretend this is profound. It's entertaining enough for a Friday night when you want something light and predictable. Just maybe not for family movie night with the 10-year-old.

Age Fit

This is squarely for teens 13+ who can handle PG-13 sexual humor and understand the workplace dynamics at play. Kids 10-12 could watch with a parent present, but be ready for awkward questions about the stripper and nudity scenes. Under 10, skip it—they'll be bored anyway.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A romantic comedy that ultimately lands on themes of personal growth, honesty, and genuine connection—Margaret learns to be vulnerable and Andrew stands up for himself. The arc from workplace bullying to mutual respect is positive. However, the journey there includes a fair amount of sexual humor (male stripper scenes, brief nudity played for laughs) and workplace power dynamics that border on coercion. The tone is lighthearted rather than mean-spirited, but the setup involves immigration fraud and a boss forcing her assistant into a fake marriage, which isn't exactly modeling great behavior even if it's played for comedy.

Imaginative

This is a by-the-numbers rom-com that hits every expected beat: fake relationship, trip to quirky hometown, family hijinks, inevitable falling in love. The Alaska setting provides some visual charm, but the story doesn't break new ground or invite creative thinking. It's comfort food—you know exactly what you're getting, which is fine for what it is, but there's nothing here that sparks curiosity or invites viewers to see the world differently. The comedy relies heavily on familiar tropes (uptight city woman meets down-to-earth small town) rather than fresh ideas.

Safe

PG-13 rating is accurate. The film includes a prolonged male stripper scene (g-string, gyrating), a comedic full-frontal nudity moment where both leads collide naked in a bathroom (no explicit detail shown but the setup is clear), sexual innuendo throughout, and mild profanity. No violence, gore, or truly disturbing content—it's all played for laughs. For teens 13+, this is standard rom-com fare. For younger viewers (8-12), parents would need to be present to navigate the sexual humor, which may be awkward or confusing. Under 8, it's a no-go—not because it's traumatizing, but because the content just isn't appropriate and wouldn't hold their interest anyway.

Enriching

There's a decent message about authenticity versus ambition—Margaret realizes her career obsession has isolated her, and Andrew learns to advocate for his own dreams rather than being a doormat. The family dynamics offer some warmth (Betty White as the feisty grandma is a highlight). But let's be real: this is a fluffy rom-com designed to entertain, not enlighten. You're not walking away with profound insights or new skills. It's enjoyable in the moment, and the chemistry between Bullock and Reynolds carries it, but the enrichment factor is minimal. It's popcorn entertainment that happens to have a nice message about being yourself.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds have genuine comedic chemistry—their banter and physical comedy land well
Betty White steals scenes as the irreverent 90-year-old grandma who's seen it all
The arc from workplace bully to vulnerable human shows that people can grow and change
Alaska setting is gorgeous and the family dynamics add warmth to the formulaic plot
Ultimately about choosing honesty over convenience, even when it costs you

⚠

What to Watch For

Male stripper scene at a 'women's lunch' with g-string and gyrating—played for laughs but pretty explicit for a rom-com
Brief full-frontal nudity scene (both leads naked in bathroom collision, no graphic detail but clearly implied)
Workplace power dynamics are troubling—boss literally threatens assistant's job to force him into marriage fraud
Mild profanity throughout and adult drinking at family gatherings
Sexual innuendo and jokes that younger kids won't get but may ask about

Conversation Starters

"Margaret basically blackmails Andrew into this fake marriage—does that make you uncomfortable? How would you handle a boss who treated you that way?"
"Why do you think Margaret became so focused on her career that she pushed everyone away? What does 'success' actually mean?"
"Andrew finally stands up for himself at the end. What made him able to do that when he couldn't before?"
"The family seems pretty close-knit compared to Margaret's isolated life. What are the trade-offs between career ambition and relationships?"

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