White is a delight in supporting role for 'The Proposal'

When the movie studio system was in full force during the first half of the 20th century, there were quite a few older character actors who showed up again and again in well-written roles in a variety of comedies and dramas. Sometimes in supporting roles, sometimes in starring roles.

But these days that's a rare commodity.

So it is delightful to see Betty White stand out and frequently steal the show in the Sandra Bullock-Ryan Reynolds vehicle "The Proposal," an amusing and mostly enjoyable "rom-com" … the current vernacular for "romantic comedy."

And the film is told in a more traditional manner than the recent trend of ultra-raunchy R-rated rom-coms. True, "The Proposal" does have a few racy moments, but hey, doesn't everything these days?

For the most part, however, "The Proposal" is an easy-to-take frothy farce with some cute bits and some funny bits … and some stupid bits.

OK, you may be saying, "The Proposal" has been out for a month and a half, what's the deal? But hey, it's still in theaters. And considering most of the other films out there right now, it's worth a reminder.

Anyway, back to Betty White. If you saw the trailer before the film came out, you may have noticed that, surprisingly, the supporting player who was shown the most was this 87-year-old scene stealer — who convincingly plays an older character, a grandmother who is about to turn 90.

The scene stealing shouldn't really be a surprise. It's true that in recent years White has guested on TV shows and been in movies primarily to play the cliche of the little old lady who says something shocking. But she has long been a very talented comic actress who can sell a witty line with the best of them.

Whether it was on one of her two 1950s sitcoms or as a celebrity guest on "Password" and other game shows during the '60s or as one of the iconic sitcom characters she created in the '70s and '80s on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Golden Girls," respectively, White is always unfailing in her delivery.

It doesn't matter whether the dialogue is a smart-aleck remark, a witty one-liner, a clever exchange with another actor or a sly, withering wisecrack, White always nails it. And in her late 80s, she's still got it.

White's character in "The Proposal" isn't quite that memorable, and she is called upon to do some silly things (chiefly the ceremonial dance in the woods). But it's the best role she's had in a while, with a number of clever witticisms that she delivers with her usual aplomb, and a few scenes she handily dominates.