One of the summer’s few romantic comedies, “The Proposal,” released in theaters last weekend. After suffering through “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” in May, which is one of the worst, most unsatisfying romantic comedies I’ve seen, watching Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds bicker and eventually fall in love felt like a welcome relief. Though, given the slim pickings of late in the romance department, it really didn’t take much to top the list of romantic comedies I’ve seen this year.
The basics: Sandra Bullock’s character, Margaret, is a “Devil Wears Prada”-like nasty boss, but this time in the publishing industry. Ryan Reynold’s character, Andrew, is the harried, humble assistant who does the devil’s bidding. The movie’s premise: Margaret is Canadian and was too busy to fill our her paperwork and is being deported, so as a last-ditch attempt to stay in the country, she barters promotions among other things to get her assistant, Andrew, to marry her. The sham engagement requires they travel to Andrew’s gorgeous house in Alaska for a family gathering where the requisite crazy antics and the falling in love (for real, of course) ensues.

This movie is fun, humorous (in some moments), and it’s about as wholesome and nonvulgar as you can get these days (which I appreciate). I’m glad I went. I know that’s not a resounding endorsement, but then, it’s not particularly clever or wonderful either. I always enjoy Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds is pretty nice to watch on screen, too. I’m just happy Judd Apatow didn’t make it.