27 DRESSES

REVIEWED BY RISSI C.

Our rating: 3 out of 5

Because of: language, sexual humor, sensuality

Rated:

Everyone likes something different, which is why filmmakers produce such a variety of different material. Most of the blockbusters I’ve been known to enjoy aren’t the mainstream critics’ idea of a “good” movie. 27 Dresses did not receive a favorable recommendation and therefore probably won’t do well, however, since romantic comedies often find a place among my collection, I decided this would be worth a try. Here, from the screenwriters of Devil Wears Prada and director Anne Fletcher, is how they perceive a young woman who “lives” the ever popular “always a bridesmaid never a bride” motto.

Her first taste of a how magical a marriage ceremony can be came at a young age, when Jane, her sister Tess, and their single father attended the wedding of a cousin. Jane ends up saving the day by preventing the bride from walking down the aisle in a torn dress. Years go by and Jane (Katherine Heigl) is still that same practical, sweet and pleasing girl; she fills in for last minute bridal fittings, arranges the table settings and is always around for any needed details. In short, she is the perfect role model for the always a bridesmaid phrase. But Jane’s own love life is a little disarrayed; she has been secretly in love with her boss George (Edward Burns) for…well, forever. And despite urgings by her best friend Casey (Judy Greer), Jane refuses to tell him. That is the least of Jane’s worries, though, when her gorgeous model sister Tess (Malin Akerman) shows up and steals George’s attention, and eventually his heart.

As Jane struggles to come to terms with her secret love's new interest, she meets Kevin (James Marsdan) a writer who covers the commitments section of the paper and has a rather dim view of the whole marriage scene. For some reason, Kevin appears at every wedding and event Jane is attending. As Jane deals with Kevin’s constant “story hunting” mentality and her sisters conniving ways, she never gives up hope that there is a perfect man out there meant for her and someday she’ll have her own special day as a bride. During the 117 minute runtime we watch events unfold that are sometimes silly but ultimately ends on a sweet conclusion that leaves you with a smile.

From Return to Me to While you were Sleeping to Music & Lyrics, I have many favorites among the romance genre and am pleased to report that 27 Dresses will probably join them. None of those are perfect and this is likewise flawed, but it has heart and in due course we feel good about our hero and heroines choices. All four of our main characters have flaws and I think the screenwriters did a nice job of showing that. None of us are perfect, so when we go to a movie it is unrealistic when we see the “perfectly” depicted fiancée or family. It seems that everyone has problems and issues, no matter how much they try to hide it. Kevin’s biggest problem is his flippant comments about marriage, by asking “Is it really worth it for something that has a 50/50 chance of making it?” After being in twenty-seven weddings as a bystander, Jane has come to know a lot about weddings and she also knows exactly what she wants -- a man to have only eyes for her as she makes her way down the aisle. That is her favorite part of the ceremony, when you finally set eyes on the man you are madly in love with and he is looking only at you.

While there are bumps and detours during this ultimately charming story, it wasn’t as bad as I’d first thought, which is always refreshing. Being from the screenwriters of The Devil Wears Prada and director of Step Up, I had hope that this too would be decent as far as content goes and I’ve decided it was; the most potentially worrying aspect for parents and what I least enjoyed was the profanity. In this it is what you hear rather than see that is most bothersome. There are numerous uses of “sh**”, “b**ch," etc. The f-word is almost uttered twice; a bride begins to say it before she realizes there is a child in her presence, and Jane says it, but it’s drowned out by a loud noise.

While a good portion of the comic remarks come from best friend Casey, she also has most of the sexual jokes for lines. She has a cavalier attitude about sex and relationships, once quipping “the only reason to wear these dresses is so a drunk groomsman can rip it to shreds with his bare teeth.” She references spending three days in bed with a guy. Jane comments on being able to have “hate sex” after her sister is married. Jane and Kevin get drunk and it’s implied they have a sexual encounter in her car. We see them making out before it cuts to morning; Jane tells Kevin she never does this. Casey tells Jane to have an “accidental pregnancy” by George. Jane helps brides go to the restroom in their billowing dresses. Walking into her apartment, Jane finds Tess and George making out on the couch. Different dresses are inappropriate and suggestive. Jane once quips she’s “Jesus," as part of a joke. Kevin gets to know Jane under a false pretenses and engages in dishonest behavior.

Casey does somewhat redeem herself by giving Jane a wake up call after a drastic mistake. As far as romantic comedies go, this one is nothing brilliant; there isn’t much unique or new about it, but it has a fairy tale feel at times and is quite funny. One of my favorite scenes is when Kevin appears at Jane’s apartment and we are enlightened in our first glimpse into a possible developing relationship; what I liked so much about the scene is it's kept sweet and innocent. The scene in which Jane finally lands her guy and gets him back is also touching and there were a few times in this movie where I almost cried. By the conclusion, we have hope that certain characters will have their chance to redeem themselves and that in itself is refreshing. It isn’t perfect, but for a new romantic comedy I’d recommend it for an older audience, since despite its faults, it also has a lot of moral values about relationships and marriage and lessons are learned the hard way, plus it is cute, charming and has an ending that leaves you believing in happily-ever after.