White also gets repeatedly stranded here with awkward gags that don't even come close to making the most of her comic talents. She's more than capable of raunchy humor, which has always provided an endearing contrast with her prim looks; here, she's merely asked to look silly.

But we know these folksy folks will wear down Margaret's defenses, and in no time she lets down her uptight ponytail and realizes maybe there's more to Andrew than she'd previously realized. Seeing him naked probably also helped — it sure doesn't hurt — in a scene in which both actors strip down to basically nothing. Both have been to the gym, it seems.

As bickering co-workers, they're a great fit. As potential romantic partners, not so much — and the 12-year age difference is only part of what makes their connection seem implausible. There's also the small problem of Margaret abandoning everything that defined her faster than you can say "I do."

"The Proposal," a Touchstone Pictures release, is rated PG-13 for sexual content, nudity and language. Running time: 104 minutes. Two stars out of four.