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 Rated: PG-13
Starring: Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Malin Akerman, Edward Burns, Melora Hardin
Directed by: Anne Fletcher
27 Dresses, a
sweet film under the direction of Anne Fletcher (40 Year-Old Virgin),
opens this weekend, and if you"re romantically inclined, it"s perfect for
you. And girls, don"t be afraid to drag
along a date, as it will give him a chance to prove that he can watch films
other than action and sports.
Jane (Heigl) has always been a bridesmaid. Starting at an
early age, she's worked her way up through 27 weddings—and she has the dresses
to prove it. It isn’t because she’s a
professional wedding attendant, but that she has never met the man of her
dreams. Finally admitting to herself
that the dreamboat she desires is her boss George (Burns), her best friend
Casey (Greer) urges her to make a move on him.
She puts aside the pursuit when her sister Tess (Akerman) comes to town
after a long hiatus to cool her heels between world travel jaunts. The next
evening Jane invites Tess to her office party.
Unfortunately at the party Tess meets George and he falls for her in a
big way. In the meantime, wedding
reporter Kevin (Marsden), takes an interest in Jane after spying her at a
wedding and tries to put the moves on her.
So begins the quadrangle love affair with Jane stalking George who has
become enamored by Tess, who has no idea that her sister Jane wants George
while Kevin pursues Jane who has no interest in Kevin, and so on and so
forth. Whew!
Sounds
complicated, but actually the Fletcher directed film happens to be a very smooth
and nicely timed little film. Her smart
direction keeps the plot rolling, intertwining each of the characters and
leading them into some comical situations.
Heigl gives an over-the-top performance as the dress-collecting heroin,
reminiscent of her super performance in Knocked Up. Her ability to transform herself into an
A-list actor has not yet blossomed however. I
did roll my eyes when Marsden croons a tune like he did in Enchanted—I hope this isn’t a standard
for any of his future films.
The scene stealer is Ackerman
with her blonde moments and her dazzling, innocent smile. Her perfect performance as Tess, Jane’s
unwitting and manipulative sister who inadvertently comes between her and
George, makes the film work.
For women,
there’s no downside, but men will probably wander in their mind aimlessly, thinking of ways they can bargain the night at the cinema
for a night out with the guys.
FINAL
ANALYSIS: 27 Dresses is a chick flick,
and an amazingly good one.
This Reviewer's Rating:    2.5 / 5
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