|
Since she was a young girl, Jane (Katherine Heigl) has been good at helping others. Her fascination for weddings begins when she is 8-years-old, as she saves the day for a bride-in-distress. She carries this yen for weddings into adulthood when on top of working as assistant to an advertising executive George (Edward Burns), she follows her passion: planning other people’s weddings. As amateur wedding planner she has stood in as bridesmaid at 27 weddings, and has secretly treasured her 27 costumes in her closet. Jane has another secret, known only to her best friend (Judy Greer)—an overwhelming crush on her boss—which gets to be a real agony when George falls for her vacationing baby sister Tess (Malin Ackerman). Now Jane has no choice but to plan the wedding of her darling sister to the man she loves. To make matters worse, a bridal beat reporter for the New York Journal, Kevin (James Marsden), without her knowing it does an explosive write-up on Jane who’s many times a bridesmaid but never a bride.
Knowing that 27 Dresses was scripted by Aline Brosh McKenna who did The Devil Wears Prada may make you expect the sting of the latter in the former. Be warned: 27 Dresses is a feel-good movie made by people who know the recipe for a romantic comedy and uses just the right amount of salt and pepper to save the stale storyline from becoming cloyingly sweet. Good performances and characterization in 27 Dresses make for the movie’s strongest point. Marsden, Ackerman, Greer and Burns know this is Heigl’s movie and act in perfect support of the Heigl character. If you will but close an eye to its somewhat implausible plot (which is a rom-com staple after all), you may find the movie entertaining, even charming in its sentimental touches.
When a comedy seems harmless, look again. 27 Dresses may be endearing especially to white-collar career women of marriageable age, but nevertheless contains certain parts that may, without the proper guidance of parents and elders, subtly give a bad example to teenagers. Like getting drunk with a stranger and finding yourself in an embarrassing and regrettable situation the morning after. As long as you know that you do not bother to go to see this movie in order to be intellectually challenged, you’ll find that it resembles a generous slice of a wedding cake: pleasurable and forgettable.
(Date Reviewed: 01 February 2008)
|
