Self is the bride

In recent years it has become quiet around Sandra Bullock. Here and there a film, but the big hit was missing. With "Self is the Bride" Bullock has now finally dared once again to a romantic comedy and then in the U.S. also immediately made a brilliant comeback, which can be attributed in particular to the good chemistry between her and her co-star Ryan Reynolds.

The film tells the story of the successful New York publishing editor Margaret Tate (Bullock), who would go over dead bodies for her career. This is also known by her co-workers, among whom the ice-cold Margret is feared and not very popular. Especially her assistant Andrew (Reynolds) has to suffer under the hard hand of his boss again and again. But then the tide turns: the US visa of the Canadian Margret expires. An expulsion from America would also mean the end of her career in the renowned publishing house. So an American husband has to be found. With promises to finally advance his career, Margret blackmails Andrew into marrying her. Too bad that the fiancé against his will has to keep up this unattractive pretence even in front of his family, whom he visits for his grandmother's birthday together with his "proposal". While the spoiled Margret in rustic Alaska is not at all with the large clan of her assistant to get along, his life is directed by the visit in completely new ways. And as if the chaos wasn't big enough, an immigration investigator is hot on the couple's heels...

"Self is the Bride" truly doesn't reinvent the wheel. At every moment, the film follows the standard clichés of any romantic comedy. The fact that "27 Dresses" director Anne Fletcher's latest throw nevertheless works is primarily due to the wonderful interplay between Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. This is immediately evident in the scene where Margret introduces the completely surprised Andrew to her bosses as her fiancé. It's wonderful how Reynolds seemingly has any hint of life vanish from his facial expressions here, while Bullock tries to maintain a desperate smile. Moments like this take solace in the story's predictability and less-than-stellar gags.

The supporting actors admittedly lose out as a result. Malin Akerman, for example, who recently cut a fine figure (at least visually) in "Watchmen", is relegated to pretty accessory without having any real significance to the story. Only Grandma Annie, deliciously portrayed by "Golden Girl" Betty White, and all-round talent Ramone (Oscar Nuñez), who provides one of the film's nicest running gags, stand out pleasantly (and amusingly).

How Sandra Bullock transforms her character from utterly unlikable to genuinely likeable is another plus for the production. In the first half of the film, it's truly hard to feel even a hint of sympathy for Margret. It's to Bullock's credit that she establishes this character in such a consistently negative way, because there's definitely a risk here that viewers won't actually side with her in the end. But taking the risk was worth it, because it's the only way some of the best gags, which include a small dog, a cell phone, and an eagle, really work.

If you like romantic comedies and don't mind an acute lack of surprise, you definitely shouldn't miss "Self is the Bride". Because with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds undoubtedly one of the best screen couples of the year comes to our cinemas. No masterpiece, but nice entertainment for an amusing cinema evening - and exactly therefore absolutely worth seeing!

Original title: The Proposal

Director: Anne Fletcher

Length: approx. 108 min.

FSK: o.Al.

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp