The Proposal marks the return of Sandra Bullock to the big screen after a two-year hiatus. It is a good thing for musicians, actors and actresses to take some time off so the audience can actually have time to miss them.

A little off-topic but it’s a bit like farmland that is allowed to fallow so the soil can be rejuvenated. The break proved the right move for Bullock as The Proposal raked in approximately US$34 million in its opening weekend in the United States, the best score for her so far.

Bullock tends to play tough characters that soften as the film rolls on. In the Miss Congeniality series we saw Bullock as a snorting tomboy cop who came to appreciate girly and Barbie-esque things when she donned pink pageantry garments and spewed talk of world peace on her way to saving the day.

In The Proposal there is no exception to this rule. Bullock plays no-nonsense book editor Margaret, who saves herself from deportation by getting engaged to her unsuspecting executive assistant Andrew (Reynolds).

As the story unravels, we learn, together with Andrew, that Margaret is not as stern as she seems. Underneath the power suits is a woman afraid to lose control.

There is nothing wrong with an actor or actress being stereotyped and working the screen with what they do best. If this is what brings in the cash and fans for Bullock, then she should continue playing such characters because she is good at it.

Just like hunky Ryan Reynolds who plays Andrew, the subordinate who falls in love with his boss. He has one of the best toned abs in the business and he works it for the camera by appearing shirtless in several scenes. Yes, delicious! He also plays a stereotypical character – the rich prodigal son, very much like his Van Wilder character. The Proposal is your typical romantic comedy. Everything about it screams stereotype, but in a good way. Even though there are hints of serious issues being addressed, the importance of family for instance, the movie is generally light and relatable. There are a few slapstick moments that were unnecessary but it must be a Sandra Bullock movie staple that these be included for laughs.

The supporting actors and actresses played their roles well. Can I just say that Mary Steenburgen, who plays Andrew’s mother Grace, is breathtakingly beautiful?

All in all, The Proposal is worth watching if you have missed Sandra Bullock on screen. She has not lost her alluring charisma and even if you will not admit that you have missed her, you will be glad to have caught her in The Proposal. Yes, the fallow has been good for Bullock. Welcome back!