The Proposal **

Although enlivened by real chemistry between Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds onscreen, "The Proposal" is a slight and only slightly amusing romantic comedy. The situation - a pushy book editor forces her assistant to marry her in order to avoid deportation - propels the couple into situations with his family that force her to get to know him for the first time. She is of course older than he, but luckily she looks like Sandra Bullock and he is just as adorable. The family characters are fine, especially Betty White as the grandmother, although it's too bad you've already seen all of her good lines in the previews. I'm glad to see Ryan Reynolds make the transition to leading man. This is a diverting bit of fluff for a summer's rainy afternoon, with two very attractive main characters.

Rated PG-13. 108 minutes. Anne Fletcher - Director, Peter Chiarelli - Writer, David Hoberman - Producer, Todd Lieberman - Producer, Oliver Stapleton - Cinematographer, Aaron Zigman - Composer, Nelson Coates - Production Designer, Priscilla Nedd-Friendly - Editor. Produced by Kurtzman/Orci, Mandelivve Films, and Touchstone Pictures. Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Pictures.

Principal actors: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Malin Akerman, Craig T. Nelsonn, Mary Steenburgen, Denis O'Hare, and Betty White.