On paper, this undistinguished romcom must have seemed as lightweight as helium. On film, the predictable plot and mundane dialogue means it rarely gets off the ground.

Heartless New York publishing executive Margaret (Sandra Bullock) blackmails stressed assistant Andrew (Ryan Reynolds) into marrying her to save her from deportation to her native Canada.

The odd couple’s visit to Andrew’s family in small-town Alaska gives rise to an amiable comedy of embarrassment with an utterly unsurprising ending.