Utterly predictable but it works!

Rating: 8/10 (4 July 2009)

Mean, evil New York book editor Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) is going to be sent back to Canada because her Visa has expired. She orders her assistant Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds) to act like he's her boyfriend and has proposed to her. Naturally he hates her but goes along with it. They then go to Alaska to celebrate the 90th birthday of Andrew's Grandma Annie (Betty White). Three guesses what happens.
Utterly predictable in terms of plot but this works beautifully! Bullock and Reynolds are both great actors, are incredibly good-looking and play off each other well (it helps that they're friends in real life). Reynolds downplays his role nicely and Bullock plays her part perfectly. They're helped by a script that is predictable but VERY funny. A sequence between Bullock, an eagle and an adorable little dog is hysterical! There's a strong supporting cast doing wonderfully--White is great as always and Mary Steenburgen is excellent as Reynold's mother. Oscar Nunez is great in multiple roles! Only Craig T. Nelson disappoints as Reynold's father.
This is a chick flick that is utterly predictable but works every step of the way. Well done and entertaining. An 8.