The Proposal (2009)

A Canadian citizen (Sandra Bullock) working in the U.S. as an editor for a major publishing house is threatened with deportation due to an expired visa. She coerces her assistant (Ryan Reynolds) with the promise of a promotion if he'll marry her and thus make her eligible for U.S. citizenship. He agrees and they set off to Alaska to meet his family. Directed by Anne Fletcher, this is a slick mainstream romantic comedy that works nicely until it crashes and burns in its last 20 minutes. The calculated screenplay doesn't pretend to be anything more than it is and until it suddenly turns all serious at the end, it's fun. But oy vey! Those awful final minutes, which almost destroys the goodwill engendered by what came previously, are the kind that give romcoms a bad reputation. Bullock and Reynolds have a playful chemistry and adept comedic skills which goes a long way in winning us over. The handsome locations in Massachusetts (Rockford, Manchester By The Sea) do a perfect job of subbing for Alaska. With Mary Steenburgen, Betty White, Craig T. Nelson, Denis O'Hare and Michael Nouri.