'The Proposal' likely to jilt awards bridesmaid Sandra Bullock

"The Proposal" marks a return to romantic comedy for Sandra Bullock after four years. And critics were divided as to whether she had been missed. "The Proposal" earned only 49 at Meta Critic and 41 at Rotten Tomatoes. Most reviews of this movie – in which Bullock and Ryan Reynolds play a battle-axe boss and beleaguered assistant thrown together by her immigration woes – were toward either end of the spectrum.

Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly raved, "The chemical energy between Bullock and Reynolds is fresh and irresistible." Ann Hornaday of theWashington Post was more modest in her praise noting, "it's as predictable and comforting as a Happy Meal, but it must be said that 'The Proposal' manages to elicit some genuinely amusing moments, especially when it comes to physical comedy."

For Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times the film "recycles a plot that was already old when Tracy and Hepburn were trying it out. You see it coming from a great distance away. As it draws closer, you don't duck out of the way, because it is so cheerfully done, you don't mind being hit by it."

Among the most negative of naysayers was Michael Sragow of the Baltimore Sun who said, "'The Proposal' should have been called 'The Formula' – 'The Recipe' would suggest too much flavor." And Joe Morgenstern of the Wall Street Journal wondered why Sandra Bullock, "is demeaning herself with such shoddy goods? She’s a talented woman with a faithful following. She has made formula films of varying quality before, and her fans may well swallow this one, but it’s a formula for disappointment laced with dismay."

Sandra Bullock is a two-time Golden Globe nominee for best actress in a musical or comedy. She lost her 1995 bid for "While You Were Sleeping" to Nicole Kidman in "To Die For." And "Nurse Betty" star Renee Zellweger bested her in 2000 when she was nominated for "Miss Congeniality." Ryan Reynolds has not competed for any major showbiz hardware.

Scene-stealer Betty White could be the one to reap awards recognition for "The Proposal." The beloved TV icon has made few movies in her 65-year career. Our buddy Lou Lumenick of the New York Post speculates that she could earn an Oscar nod for her work as the feisty grandmother to Reynold's character.

Betty White has won four prime-time Emmy Awards for her: supporting role on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (1975, 1976); lead role on "The Golden Girls" (1986); and guest role on "The John Larroquette Show" (1996). She has racked up another 10 Emmy noms over the years and had four consecutive Golden Globe nods for "The Golden Girls" beginning in 1986