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Starring
Katherine Heigl
James Marsden
Ed Burns
Malin Akerman
Judy Greer
Directed by
Anne Fletcher
Final Grade:
A-Rated PG-13 for language, some innuendo and sexuality
a review by Heith Carnahan
The Rundown
Lovely, likeable Jane (the lovely, likeable Katherine Heigl) is the quintessential always-a-bridesmaid, having collected over two dozen dresses from as many weddings over the course of who knows how many years. She's also the one everyone counts on to plan and execute their special events; even her job as an office assistant to George (the always reliable Ed Burns), with whom she's crazy in love, fits this tendency of hers like a glove.
Jane's feverish attentions to other's happiness catch the eye of Kevin Doyle (James Marsden), who writes the Commitments column in the local paper, and he's as taken with her as he is with her story. Meanwhile, Jane's younger sister Tess (Malin Akerman) arrives in town for a couple weeks and immediately charms George to pieces before Jane can stop her. She's now faced with several what-to-dos: is George the right guy for her after all, can she steal him back from Tess, or does her happiness lie with someone else entirely?
Lovely, likeable
What's a good phrase if you're not allowed to overuse it, right? "Lovely" and "likeable," while hardly appealing to most of the male audience, are the two best words to describe a movie like 27 Dresses. It's not as overwritten as it might sound; the various storylines intertwine so smoothly and mesh together so well, you'll absolutely forget you're watching at least two movies at once.
I don't want to live in a world where Katherine Heigl is considered the "plain" sister -- or maybe I really, really do, just depending on how you look at it. In any case, she pulls it off, primarily because she's got the chops to do it; you know Hollywood is working its magic on anyone who believes someone as lovely and likeable as Jane could ever remain single through so many weddings. Part of the reason 27 Dresses works so well, though, is because you do believe it. With the backdrop firmly in place after the opening act, and surrounded by supporting characters only Judy Greer and Malin Akerman could so seamlessly weave, Heigl takes a very witty, heartfelt, well-structured script and runs with it, taking us along with her for a lovely, likeable ride.
James Marsden comes in under the radar as the newspaper columnist you just can't help but like, and Ed Burns isn't given enough to do but turns in his typically uber-natural performance as Jane's likeable, easygoing boss George. 27 Dresses is neither predictable nor overcooked, despite the many possible flight plans involved. It's just really, really good.
The Bottom Line
It will no doubt appeal mostly to female audiences, but don't let that scare you. When a January release receives any kind of A rating on Movie-Popcorn, you know you've got something special. With this much to like, how can you resist?
-- Heith Carnahan, heith @ movie-popcorn.com