The Proposal (2009)

The Proposal builds a whole romance on visa fraud and treats it like a cozy weekend in Alaska. You’ll know every turn before the plane lands: mean boss, put-upon assistant, fake engagement, a family way too nice to lie to, a wedding you can see coming from the airport. It’s a rom-com assembled straight from the kit. What saves it is Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds sniping at each other like two people who actually share an office and resent every minute of it. Bullock throws her whole body into the physical comedy, including a strange chant in the woods with Betty White that goes on long enough to become performance art. Betty White is the MVP, no debate. A tiny dog and a very large eagle get a scene that’s somehow the tensest moment in the movie. Audiences gave it an A minus CinemaScore and $317.4 million worldwide while critics shrugged. A 6.0 because Bullock and Reynolds sell it even when the script doesn’t. $864 says you check your passport’s expiration date before bed and feel weirdly relieved.

What works: Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds have sharp, bickering chemistry, and Betty White steals every scene she’s in.

What doesn’t: Every plot beat is visible from the opening scene, and the family drama in Alaska is too soft to give the story any real stakes.

Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a comfort rom-com on a Sunday, and every assistant who has ever fantasized about blackmailing their boss.