The Proposal Blu-ray

The Proposal

 (2009)

Comedy | Romance



Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) terrorizes her publishing house co-workers with her abrasive, take-no-prisoners management style, especially her overworked assistant Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds). But when Margaret is threatened with deportation to her native Canada because of an immigration technicality, the quick-thinking exec announces that she and Andrew are engaged to be married. Ambitious Andrew agrees to go along with her scheme— if there’s a long-awaited promotion in it for him. Everything is going according to Margaret’s plan, until an overzealous immigration official makes it his business to prove that the couple’s engagement is bogus. To demonstrate her commitment to her new fiancé, Margaret agrees to celebrate the 90th birthday of his colorful grandmother (Betty White) — in Alaska. The editrix’s type-A ways put her at odds with her eccentric future in-laws with hilarious consequences, until the Paxtons teach Margaret a thing or two about family.

For more details about The Proposal on Blu-ray, see The Proposal Blu-ray Review

The Proposal Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


The Proposal saunters onto Blu-ray with a somewhat uneven 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that struggles to deliver a consistent image. Oliver Stapleton's steely cityscapes, warm offices, and autumnal countrysides are bolstered by vibrant primaries and bold colors, but skintones are all over the place. Natural, flushed, bronzed, chalky... Reynolds and crew look as if they've been yanked from half a dozen films and half a dozen different transfers. Contrast and black levels are more reliable, but also prone to odd quirks including flattened depth and smoky shadows. Thankfully, the picture is on point more often than not. Detail is sharp and satisfying, delineation is strong, and textures, while a bit mushy here and there, are generally pleasing. Disney's technical presentation is quite proficient as well. I didn't detect any artifacting, source noise, crush, or banding, and edge enhancement has been kept to a minimum. As it stands, videophiles will rightfully wrinkle their noses at several scenes, but romcom regulars will be more forgiving of its occasional shortcomings.

The Proposal Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


The Proposal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is more remarkable than its video transfer, especially when compared to other romantic comedy lossless mixes on the market. Dialogue is crisp and clear, Aaron Zigman's score mingles effortlessly with the rest of the soundscape, and environmental ambience is crisp and playful. As you might expect, the LFE channel and rear speakers are subdued, but never far removed from the experience. Voices are weighty and street noise is convincing, lending some legitimacy to the at-times front-heavy soundfield. Likewise, lapping water and rustling branches make immersion a cinch. It isn't the most absorbing track I've listened to -- that would require Andrew to whip out a couple of swords at his ex-girlfriends wedding -- but it handles what little it's handed with style.

The Proposal Blu-ray, News and Updates

• Today on Blu-ray - October 13th - October 13, 2009


• The Proposal Announced for Blu-ray - August 14, 2009

The Proposal Blu-ray, Forum Discussions

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