27 DRESSES

"I've had some really good times in those dresses"

Jane Nichols (Heigl) loves weddings. Ever since she saved the day at her first ever wedding, she has become obsessed with the biggest day of any couple's life. As she juggles having to attend two weddings on the same day, New York Journal Commitments columnist Kevin Doyle (Marsden) notices what she is doing and becomes intrigued with the eternal bridesmaid. When he discovers that Jane has twenty-seven bridesmaid dresses and she is about to get her twenty-eighth as she organises her sister's (Akerman) wedding, Kevin sees a story that could finally get him noticed and writing real articles for the paper. For Jane having to organise her sister's wedding is secretly heartbreaking, as she is marrying her boss George (Burns) and the man she has adored for years.

Romantic comedies have the most difficult task of any genre as they have to appeal to both the sexes or they will simply be classed as a chick-flick but can '27 Dresses' be a hit with both audiences?

It is getting more and more difficult for screenwriters to write for mix sex audiences, especially were romantic comedies are concerned. Throw in too much romance and lovey-dovey ness and you alienate the male audience but throw in too many rude gags or sex and you drive the female viewers away. Getting the mix right is a fine art that very few writers or directors have achieved but when you do you have a movie that will become a date movie favourite for the rest of time. Unfortunately '27 Dresses' fails to meet those heady heights by a long, long way.

The main problem with the movie is that it is extremely predictable but while this maybe a common trait of most romantic comedies but you can tell exactly what is going to happen in the first ten minutes of '27 Dresses' or by just watching the trailer. This predictability will not only ruin the film for the completely bored male audience but it will also fail to engage its main target audiences, the girls. By making the movie far too girly and too predictable, even women will fail to get the most of the simple premise.

The premise is simplicity itself. Jane loves weddings but after making twenty-seven other bride's day perfect, she was still looking for that perfect day of her own. The problem is that the man she loves is her boss, who sees her as nothing other than an extremely good assistant but he has just met her model sister Tess and become instantly smitten. All the while Jane is trying to avoid Kevin Doyle, the man who noticed that she was attending two weddings on the same night and thought she would make a good story for the Commitments column of the New York Journal. From this simple premise you can guess what is going to happen and if you can't then the film might actually appeal to you.

The only saving grace of the movie is the presence of Katherine Heigl. Best known for her roles in the hit TV show 'Grey's Anatomy' and the hit movie 'Knocked Up', Heigl is quickly becoming a huge star and it is well deserved as she has that girl-next-door appeal that made actresses like Meg Ryan, Drew Barrymore and Reece Witherspoon so popular with audiences. She does however, deserve a much better script and starring vehicle than his. Edward Burns made his name as an independent writer/actor/director but lately he seems to be doing jobs for the money and Malin Akerman continues to play the blonde bimbo. James Marsden is trying to move away from his Cyclops, X-Men superhero persona but this role doesn't do him any favours and comedian Judy Greer really doesn't get enough screen time to make the most of her talents.

'27 Dresses' is a huge disappointment and a missed opportunity for Katherine Heigl to advance her career. The movie is far too girly for its own good, to the fact that even its target audience will not get the most out of it. As for the male audience, this is one movie that you should refuse to go to and say that your girlfriend/wife/partner should go to see with their friends, as you will hate every minute.

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2008