The proposal

Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) is the executive editor-in-chief of a book publishing company, Colden Books, who forces her assistant Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) to marry her in order to avoid being deported to Canada. He grudgingly accepts, under the condition that he is promoted to the position of editor. When the government investigates, the two are forced to spend the weekend with his parents in Alaska in order to sell the lie. The family suggest they could marry the same weekend, and they reluctantly accept. They start to fall genuinely in love as they spend more and more time together. Because of this, during the wedding ceremony, Margaret decides she cannot do this to Andrew and confesses the business arrangement in front of everyone--including the immigration officer handling their case. She is then told that she has 24 hours to get back to Canada, and thus goes back to New York to pack her things. Upon doing so, however, Andrew shows up at the office and confesses his love for her in front of the entire office staff, proposing marriage all over again. [D-Man2010]

When high-powered book editor Margaret faces deportation to her native Canada, the quick-thinking exec declares that she’s actually engaged to her unsuspecting put-upon assistant Andrew, who she’s tormented for years. He agrees to participate in the charade, but with a few conditions of his own. The unlikely couple heads to Alaska to meet his quirky family and the always-in-control city girl finds herself in one comedic fish-out-of-water situation after another. With an impromptu wedding in the works and an immigration official on their tails, Margaret and Andrew reluctantly vow to stick to the plan despite the precarious consequences.

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Eagle Eye (2008)

At work, inside burning buildings, Capt. Caleb Holt lives by the old firefighter’s adage: Never leave your partner behind. At home, in the cooling embers of his marriage, he lives by his own rules. After seven years of marriage, Caleb and Catherine Holt have drifted so far apart that Catherine wishes she had never married. Neither one understands the pressures the other faces--he as firefighter and she as the public relations director of a hospital. Regular arguments over jobs, finances, housework, and outside interests have readied them both to move on to something with more sparks.

As the couple prepares to enter divorce proceedings, Caleb¿s father challenges his son to commit to a 40-day experiment he calls ‘[The Love Dare.]‘ Wondering if it’s even worth the effort, Caleb agrees, but more for his father’s sake more than for his marriage. When Caleb discovers the book’s daily challenges are tied into his parents’ newfound faith, his already limited interest is further dampened. While trying to stay true to his promise, Caleb becomes frustrated time and again. He finally asks his father, ‘How am I supposed to show love to somebody who constantly rejects me?’

When his father explains that this is the love God shows to us, Caleb makes a life-changing commitment to love God. And--with God’s help--he begins to understand what it means to truly love his wife. But is it too late to fireproof his marriage? His job is to rescue others. Now Caleb Holt is ready to face his toughest job ever--rescuing his wife’s heart.

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The Duchess (2008)

In 1774 Georgiana Cavendish (Knightley) marries the sullen Duke Of Devonshire (Fiennes) with the sole purpose of providing him a male heir. The Duke, angered at his wife’s inability to fulfil her wifely duties -- she gives him two daughters -- embarks on an affair with Georgiana’s only friend Bess (Atwell), an open secret in their stately home. While putting up with that daily humiliation, Georgiana indulges in a dalliance of her own with Mr. Grey (Cooper), an aspiring Tory, but is forced to choose between her own happiness and the happiness of her children.

Popular with the people and known as the ‘Empress of fashion,’ it’s impossible to escape the Princess Diana allegory running through Saul Dibb’s film -- the only thing missing is her death in a carriage collision. Adapted from Amanda Foreman’s novel, it will appeal to those who love their period dramas (the locations on show are at times breathtaking) and although the audience this drama is pitched at will have seen better, it’s a solid film. Knightley might be front and centre and shows again that she’s not just a pretty face, but it’s Fiennes, hamstrung by a small if formidable role, that seems to do more than his co-star and acts her off the screen whenever the two are together; thankfully for Knightley it’s not that often.

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