27 Dresses (C or 2/4 stars)
Ever since she was 8, Jane (Katherine Heigl) has loved weddings. As a grown up, her job is as an assistant to advertising executive, George (Edward Burns). However, her lifetime devotion to help plan weddings (and to help people, in general) is starting to wear on her. She loves what she does, has served as a bridesmaid 27 times ... but hopes that Prince Charming (in the form of George) will someday sweep her off her feet. But it ain't happenin' now. Within weeks of meeting him, Jane's sister, Tess (Malin Akerman), lies her way into George's affections and a wedding needs to be planned ... by Jane! Horrified, but hesitant to do anything about it, Jane hopelessly devotes herself to the all-too-familiar cause of bridesmaid-ing. So is the plot of Anne Fletcher's '27 Dresses'.
Enter Kevin (the always amiable James Marsden, ironically, just fresh from playing Prince Charming in Enchanted). He is the wedding announcements writer for the 'New York Journal' and is intrigued by Jane's bridesmaid junkie lifestyle. Kevin initially hopes to write a piece on her, but finds himself falling for her instead. He's sarcastic, she's genuine, but opposites DO attract. And it takes one drunken night in an upstate bar to loosen her up into admitting that Kevin is, at the very least, sexy. After belting out 'Benny & the Jets' on top of the bar (one of the few humorous scenes), their destiny seems apparent, or does it? See, a rough copy of Kevin's initial story on Jane is released (against his wishes), and he loses Jane before he ever really had her. Blah, blah, blah. Can he get her back? Will she grow some cajones and try to stop the marriage btwn. her sister & George? Will every conflict in this movie resolve itself? Please, you know the answers.
I've never disliked an actress so much (really, for no solid reason), yet genuinely liked the same person in 'movies' as much as Katherine Heigl. I mean, she's very attractive, she's relatable, and delivers her lines with cheekiness & sly wit. It's because of her that this film doesn't go off the deep end. Though the dialogue is often scripted, she brings an intangible quality to the words coming out of her mouth. The rest of the cast succeeds with varying success (Marsden, Judy Greer as her smart-mouth buddy). Malin Akerman continues to be annoying (in good & bad ways) from her initial showing in The Heartbreak Kid.
Though it's formulaic, highly predictable, & too silly for its' own good ... '27 Dresses' is also fluffy, light & goes down easy. There's also some interesting insight into the minutia that makes up American weddings. You won't openly hate this movie, but there's no real reason for it to have been made. Heigl & Marsden 'act' like they're in love. That's the aim of the film. Where all else fails, it succeeds there. There are several moments which hit the right comedy/sappy/sugary chord. But while Heigl is engaging (as she was in Knocked Up), she couldn't save this contrived, disposable motion picture.
Enter Kevin (the always amiable James Marsden, ironically, just fresh from playing Prince Charming in Enchanted). He is the wedding announcements writer for the 'New York Journal' and is intrigued by Jane's bridesmaid junkie lifestyle. Kevin initially hopes to write a piece on her, but finds himself falling for her instead. He's sarcastic, she's genuine, but opposites DO attract. And it takes one drunken night in an upstate bar to loosen her up into admitting that Kevin is, at the very least, sexy. After belting out 'Benny & the Jets' on top of the bar (one of the few humorous scenes), their destiny seems apparent, or does it? See, a rough copy of Kevin's initial story on Jane is released (against his wishes), and he loses Jane before he ever really had her. Blah, blah, blah. Can he get her back? Will she grow some cajones and try to stop the marriage btwn. her sister & George? Will every conflict in this movie resolve itself? Please, you know the answers.
I've never disliked an actress so much (really, for no solid reason), yet genuinely liked the same person in 'movies' as much as Katherine Heigl. I mean, she's very attractive, she's relatable, and delivers her lines with cheekiness & sly wit. It's because of her that this film doesn't go off the deep end. Though the dialogue is often scripted, she brings an intangible quality to the words coming out of her mouth. The rest of the cast succeeds with varying success (Marsden, Judy Greer as her smart-mouth buddy). Malin Akerman continues to be annoying (in good & bad ways) from her initial showing in The Heartbreak Kid.
Though it's formulaic, highly predictable, & too silly for its' own good ... '27 Dresses' is also fluffy, light & goes down easy. There's also some interesting insight into the minutia that makes up American weddings. You won't openly hate this movie, but there's no real reason for it to have been made. Heigl & Marsden 'act' like they're in love. That's the aim of the film. Where all else fails, it succeeds there. There are several moments which hit the right comedy/sappy/sugary chord. But while Heigl is engaging (as she was in Knocked Up), she couldn't save this contrived, disposable motion picture.