SANDRA Bullock returns to sparkling form in Anne Fletcher's screwball romantic comedy, which proves that the path to true love can sometimes begin with some good old-fashioned blackmail.

Essaying the boss from hell, Bullock plies her innate charm and impeccable comic timing to endear her character to us.

On-screen chemistry with impossibly buff leading man Ryan Reynolds sizzles and threatens to melt the snowy Alaskan locales.

In the hallowed corridors of Ruick & Hunt Publishing, New York book editor Margaret Tate (Bullock) is feared by one and all including her long-suffering assistant Andrew (Reynolds).

The staff hate her, as does Andrew, but he suffers her mental abuse hoping that one day she might publish his debut novel and he can pursue his dream of becoming a world-famous writer.

In a shocking turn of events, Margaret is threatened with deportation to Canada when her visa expires.

In order to stay in the country, she forces Andrew to pose as her fiance and walk her down the aisle, with the understanding they can get divorced a few months later when she has her citizenship, presuming they can fool the wily immigration officer (O'Hare) assigned to their case.

As part of the ruse, she accompanies him home to Sitka, Alaska, for a family get-together with his parents (Steenburgen, Nelson), grandmother (White) and old flame (Akerman).