THE first problem with this guy's marriage proposal is that it takes 25 minutes.

As far as this writer is concerned, that's about 23 minutes too long. It makes those last 12 scenes of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy seem positively succinct, and it crosses the line between devoting noticeable time and effort to something and wasting half of your soon-to-be fiancee's evening.

Never mind that though. There are bigger problems here.

First, some background. Actor and director Justin Baldoni told his girlfriend, Emily Foxler, to go to the Blu Jam Cafe in Los Angeles, where he planned to unleash a romantic evening of longwinded surprises.

Why the Blu Jam Cafe, you ask? Because that's where the couple shared their first date. Awww.

When Emily arrived at the cafe, Justin was nowhere to be found, but he did organise some tasteful candles to offset the room's dim lighting.

Once Emily was settled in, a video of Justin appeared on a nearby screen and the marathon proposal began. The whole thing is now up on YouTube.

"I promise I'm not standing you up. It's the opposite of that," Justin says in the clip. "Baby I love you. I love you so ... freaking much. I love the s**t out of you."

"I'm trying to propose. And, you know, my mind being the way it is I could think of a million different ways that I want to do it. But all I know is that I want it to be special and I want it to be romantic and I want it to be something that you never forget."

OK. Two minutes in, it's all going pretty well. Then the scene changes and Justin is sitting down for a radio interview.

His further attempts at soppy commentary foiled by a studio stuff-up, Justin changes into a white singlet ("check it out babe, I have arm muscles") and starts lip syncing 'N Sync. Followed by Boys II Men. Followed by Dancing Queen, as Justin completes the act with a huge curly wig and a rather fetching mini-dress.

That probably would have sufficed. But Justin adds another ten minutes to the clip, first starring in a fake movie trailer, then bringing out some old home videos.

Eventually, he makes it to the cafe for the actual proposal. However, before lowering himself onto one knee, Justin feels the need to weird up the event just a little more.

He tells Emily that he thinks her deceased father is watching them, and gees up a video of himself at the man's gravestone, asking for his blessing.

Having reduced his partner to tears, Justin asks the question everyone has been anticipating for 20 minutes, and Emily says yes.

You have to feel happy for them. And you have to applaud Justin for his commitment to the proposal, which clearly required a lot of time and thought.

Still, we think it may have been slightly over the top.

Lame or lovely? Tell us what you thought of Justin's proposal on Twitter: @newscomauHQ

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