Bullock Returns with a Vengeance in The Proposal

Summer's first major romantic comedy arrives with the generically-titled The Proposal, otherwise known as the return of America's sweetheart Sandra Bullock. The film, co-starring Ryan Reynolds and everyone's favorite senior citizen Betty White, focuses on Margaret Tate (Bullock), an equally feared and successful editor-in-chief at publishing house Colden Books. Tate, a Canadian citizen, finds her life turned upside-down upon learning that a series of bureaucratic missteps results in a denied visa and her impending deportation. In a desperate attempt to save her career Tate blackmails her assistant, aspiring writer Andrew Paxton (Reynolds), into being her faux fiancee. A nosy immigration official (played with great relish by character actor Denis O'Hare) doesn't buy the rouse and plans a thorough investigation into the engagement. The "happy" couple, in order to learn enough to fool the government, then fly to Sitka, Alaska to spend the weekend with Paxton's family for his Grandma Annie's (White) ninetieth birthday. As one can imagine, wacky family hijinks and fish-out-of-water situations ensue.

Bullock is at the top of her game here, again proving that she is Hollywood's most reliable physical comedienne. She is also one of the most likable romantic heroines of the new millennium, probably only rivaled by Reese Witherspoon. Bullock plays up Margaret's city girl antics and pushy witchiness, though she does not let that define the character; she also finds the vulnerability that in a lesser actresses hands would have appeared forced and shallow. Reynolds is also pitch-perfect in the role of the put-upon Andrew, who not only has to deal with his demanding boss but also a father (played by Craig T. Nelson) who believes his responsibilities lie not in New York, but back in Alaska taking up the family business. The two leads share a sparkling chemistry, and their transformation from trading acidic barbs to (spoiler - well, not really let's be honest) realizing that they're truly in love actually works.

If it weren't for Bullock and Reynolds (as well as scene-stealers White and The Office's Oscar Nunez as the town's priest/cashier/waiter/stripper), the film would easily have been unhinged by its by-the-numbers plot. Thankfully they add a certain pizzazz to the familiar formula, and restore a sense of 1930's screwball comedy to the proceedings. With 2009's glut of sub-par rom-coms, The Proposal actually provides a breath of fresh air and should undoubtedly make moviegoers everywhere thankful for Bullock's return.