Meet Jane (played by Katherine Heigl, hot on the heels of Knocked Up), a smart, beautiful twentysomething living in New York City. Despite having been a bridesmaid 27 times, Jane is positive her own big day will come. Just in time to cure the winter blues, the winsome comedy 27 Dresses swoops in to give audiences a break from dour Oscar fare and heady dramas.
Director Anne Fletcher is not afraid to let 27 Dresses be what it is — a fluffy, fun chick flick. The film sets up Jane’s frenetic, wedding-obsessed existence quickly with an opening sequence that has her appearing as the bridesmaid in two weddings in one day. From that moment on, we cheer on Jane in her quest to find “the one.”
As we get to know Jane, we learn she harbours a crush on her boss (the very likable Edward Burns, oozing manly charm). However, things go awry when he falls for Jane’s sister and (you guessed it) Jane is asked to be a bridesmaid yet again. There’s a dark horse by the name of Doyle (James Marsden), a writer of wedding profiles with an agenda of his own. This is romantic comedy zaniness done right, thanks to a smart screenplay by Aline Brosh McKenna, the writer behind the film version of The Devil Wears Prada. A few screwball antics, a handful of misunderstandings and an epiphany round out the lighthearted comedy.
The two leads, Heigl and Marsden, have a combative but lovable chemistry and both actors seem on the verge of superstardom. Their charisma and ease with the material keeps the film from falling flat, and Heigl’s breakout status in particular is confirmed in this starring vehicle — we may have another Meg Ryan on our hands. It’s also good to see Marsden come out from behind those X-Men glasses.
Oh, and ladies, pay attention. It’s the guy calling you who should demand your attention, not the one giving you the cold shoulder — or, you know, marrying your sister.
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