Ryan Reynolds tabbed grand marshal at Pocono

LONG POND, Pa. -- Ryan Reynolds, star of the upcoming comedy The Proposal, has been named the grand marshal for the Pocono 500 on June 7 (2 p.m. ET on TNT).

Reynolds

Reynolds will participate in a number of pre-race activities, including attending the drivers meeting, participating in driver introductions and giving the most famous command in motorsports, "Gentleman, start your engines."

The Proposal, in theaters on June 19, is a comedy about what happens when a high-powered book editor Margaret (Sandra Bullock) faces deportation to her native Canada. The quick-thinking exec declares that she's actually engaged to her unsuspecting put-upon assistant Andrew (Reynolds), who she's tormented for years.

He agrees to participate in the charade, but with a few conditions of his own. The unlikely couple heads to Alaska to meet his quirky family (Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson, Betty White) and the always-in-control city girl finds herself in one comedic fish-out-of-water situation after another. With an impromptu wedding in the works and an immigration official on their tails, Margaret and Andrew reluctantly vow to stick to the plan despite the precarious consequences.

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Director Anne Fletcher came to The Proposal following her highly successful 27 Dresses. Her directorial debut was with the 2006 surprise smash Step Up.

Prior to his starring role in The Proposal, Canadian-born Reynolds recently starred in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Adventureland, Definitely-Maybe, Smokin Aces, The Amityville Horror and Van Wilder.

Reynolds is married to actress/model Scarlett Johansson.