While walking through Union Square in New York on Saturday, I passed a man handing out fliers for a preview screening of the upcoming Sandra Bullock/Ryan Reynolds romantic comedy “The Proposal.” Here is what the flier says, with italics, bold, and underlining reproduced accordingly.

SPECIAL ADVANCE SCREENING
“THE PROPOSAL”

THE PROPOSAL is an all-new fun-filled comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds.

Margaret, a powerful female executive (played by Bullock), oversees a glamorous New York City publishing firm — while Andrew, her under-appreciated, stressed-out male assistant (played by Reynolds) dreams of getting promoted. But the tables get quickly turned when Margaret stunningly learns that she faces deportation back to her native Canada. Faced with no other way to stay in the country, Margaret is forced to marry her assistant Andrew! Now with the upper-hand, Andrew goes along with the sham marriage and takes Margaret to rugged Alaska to meet his quirky family. But as the mismatched couple bicker up North — they just might be able to find love where they least expected it.

Featuring hilarious comedy and charming romance, THE PROPOSAL also stars Craig T. Nelson, Mary Steenburgen, Malin Akerman, Betty White, and is from Anne Fletcher, the director of 27 Dresses and Step Up.

This invitation will admit you and one guest.
Both you and your guest must be ages 16 to 54. There will be no admission charge.

DATE: Monday, April 27, 2009

TIME: 12:00 PM noon Start Time. Please arrive early as seating is available on a “first come, first served” basis and no one will be admitted once the movie begins.

PLACE: Regal E-Walk Stadium 13 Theatres
247 West 42nd Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues)
New York, NY 10036

Note that they only want people between the ages of 16 and 54, and the screening is at noon on a Monday. This means they want an audience full of people who are of working age but do not have jobs.

They also want people who would actually find the film appealing based on the plot description on the flier. Let’s read it again!

Margaret, a powerful female executive (played by Bullock), oversees a glamorous New York City publishing firm — while Andrew, her under-appreciated, stressed-out male assistant (played by Reynolds) dreams of getting promoted.

Good thing they pointed out that “Margaret” and “Andrew” are female and male names, respectively.

But the tables get quickly turned when Margaret stunningly learns that she faces deportation back to her native Canada.

I suspect the task of writing this blurb fell to an intern and arrived in Mad Lib form, and “quickly” and “stunningly” were simply the first two adverbs the intern thought of.

Faced with no other way to stay in the country, Margaret is forced to marry her assistant Andrew!

The exclamation point sells it. I wasn’t sure the film was going to be hilariously wacky until then.

Now with the upper-hand, Andrew goes along with the sham marriage and takes Margaret to rugged Alaska to meet his quirky family.

Again with the Mad Libs. He takes Margaret to [horny] Alaska to meet his [purple] family.

But as the mismatched couple bicker up North — they just might be able to find love where they least expected it.

If they really didn’t expect to find love, then neither of them has ever seen a Sandra Bullock movie.

“The Proposal”! In theaters June 19!

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