I made my way to the theater yesterday to soak in the sugary rom-com goodness that is The Proposal, starring Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock. At first glance, it looks like another throwaway romantic comedy, but hark! This one actually works. Yes, it follows the usual blueprint—high-powered boss finds herself in a jam, forces her underling to help, cue the madness and misdirects—but it’s done with such charm and on-point comedic timing that you don’t mind the tropey-ness of it all.

Sandra Bullock plays the ice-cold editor-in-chief with a snappy wardrobe and zero patience, and she’s having a lot of fun in the role. Her deadpan delivery and physical comedy are on point, reminding me why she’s been America’s favorite leading lady for so long.

Ryan Reynolds, meanwhile, does what he does best: hit every sarcastic punchline while looking like a Greek statue someone left in an Abercrombie and Fitch. His timing is impeccable, his delivery razor-sharp and his abs deserve their own line in the credits.

The rom-com train never really derails, but this one tweaks the formula just enough to make the ride fun again. It’s self-aware without being smug, sweet without being sticky. Betty White nearly steals the show as Reynolds’s eccentric grandmother, proving once again that she’s a national treasure who needs to be in every movie from here on out.

Ultimately, The Proposal isn’t reinventing the genre. It’s just reminding us why we liked it in the first place.