Two Weeks Notice (2002)

Mark Lawrence Sandra Bullock (Lucy Kelson), Hugh Grant (George Wade), Alicia Witt (June Carver), Dana Ivey (Ruth Kelson), Robert Klein (Larry Kelson), Heather Burns (Meryl Brooks) You'd expect a cavalcade of cuteness from any pairing of Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant, but admirably avoids the obvious. You get plenty of Bullock's pratfalls and feisty sex appeal, and Grant's snappy comebacks are never in short supply, but first-time writer-director Marc Lawrence (who wrote Bullock's previous hit, ) adds just enough antagonism to keep this romantic comedy from being a completely foregone conclusion. Neurotic lawyer, environmentalist, and landmark-preservation activist Lucy Kelson (Bullock) is determined to thwart the efforts of billionaire developer and jet-setting playboy George Wade (Grant); of course, fate brings them together and then rips them apart, just as they're beginning to feel the panicky pangs of love. A replacement attorney (Alicia Witt) defies formula by being genuinely sweet, and Lawrence steers clear of the most familiar clichés. It's formulaic anyway, but in it's a comforting formula, delivered by stars who thrive within their limitations. --