27 Dresses

“27 Dresses,” starring Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, is a predictable romantic comedy and for those who like the genre, it’s quite enjoyable. Jane (Heigl) loves the fairy tale quality of weddings so much that she has become a wedding planner for all of her friends. She arranges flowers and the invitations, haggles with the baker for the perfect wedding cake and even stands in for the bride for wedding gown fittings. Jane has been a bridesmaid 27 times (and has a closet full of dresses to prove it) and hopes that she will soon be a bride. Her love for George, her boss (Edward Burns), has been unrequited and just when she gets enough courage to admit her feelings, George meets and falls for Jane’s sister Tess (Malin Ackerman). To complicate matters, Kevin (Marsden), a reporter for the New York Journal’s wedding section, decides to do a feature story on Jane, the perennial bridesmaid, unbeknownst to her. Kevin and Jane react to each other like a dog meeting a cat and there are such sparks that you know they will get together eventually. Besides, how could she love bland George with sexy Kevin around? Heigl established her comedic chops in “Knocked Up” and she’s perfect here – attractive, full of life and appealing. Marsden is effective as the man who is first interested in the woman as a story and then becomes interested in the woman herself. And their on-screen chemistry works. Especially fun is the scene where they have too much to drink and sing Elton John's "Benny and the Jets." If you like chick flicks, this is the movie for you. (1/20/08)