27 Dresses on DVD
A Perpetual Bridesmaid and Journalist Collide in this Romance
Heigl and Marsden's characters fall in love, but their lack of chemistry keeps "27 Dresses" from standing out in the crowd of romantic comedies.
27 Dresses takes the old adage, always a bridesmaid never a bride, to extremes. Jane Nichols (Katherine Heigl) has embraced the role exactly twenty-seven times and saved the dresses for proof. Can you imagine putting yourself through that?
The Perpetual Bridesmaid's Story
The movie begins with Jane performing her maid of honor duties for not one but two weddings on the same night. She shuttles back and forth between each via taxi and changes dresses in transit. Why would Jane endure such a stressful evening? She loves the whole spectacle of two people pledging themselves to each other. No, really, she adores everything about wedding ceremonies.
Only one thing surpasses our heroine's adoration of matrimonial rituals, her boss. She secretly loves him. Well, everyone but the boss is aware of her ardor, so technically it's not a secret. She's struggled for years to be noticed, but can't find a way to reveal her feelings. The pain of unrequited love increases when her dream man proposes to her sister.
Is that enough drama for one movie? No. What this film needs is Kevin Doyle (James Marsden), a journalist desperate to end his never-ending role as a wedding reporter. He views Jane and her 27 bridesmaid's dresses as a way out of "Commitments" purgatory and up the ladder of success. Under the guise of writing an article about her sister's wedding, which Jane is organizing, he becomes a constant in his subject's life.
Romantic comedies are a staple in Hollywood and when they are done right become huge moneymakers. Think "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." 27 Dresses isn't an original. Several scenes are blatant rip-offs of past movies, but they are tweaked just enough to keep them from being cliché.
Love is Beautiful but Beauty Doesn't Equal Love
Lack of chemistry keeps this particular film from breaking free and becoming a great story. While Katherine Heigl and James Marsden are beautiful people and brought their characters to life with skill, attraction was missing. It's tough to believe two people are falling in love when their kisses look forced.
Judy Greer plays Jane's best friend, Casey, and is sorely under utilized. She seems to be included for comic relief, however the laughs fall short. Brian Kerwin stars as Jane's father, but doesn't seem to have any purpose, other than to verify she didn't raise herself. Much of the supporting cast seems to be decoration rather than true support.
While 27 Dresses is a fun and entertaining film, it fails to stand out among the multitude of similar movies. Watch, but do not expect to be blown away.
