“27 Dresses” – Joanna Langfield reviews
All dressed up, this one still has nowhere to go. Which is especially disappointing, considering Aline Brosh McKennas uneven script does, on occasion, offer up a few promising moments.
Even drabbed down, Katherine Heigl shines as the not-so proverbial bridesmaid whos never a bride. Janes reputation as the go-to girl for the nervously affianced is well earned, after standing up for 27 of her, we are told, nearest and dearest. And that being-there quality seeps its way into her pathetic personal life, too. Our heroine not only has unrequited hots for her boss (Ed Burns), her far more glamourous, needy sister (Malin Ackerman) shows up and steals him away with a glance. And, except for one, also unmarried pal, the girlfriends who demanded so much, seem to disappear after the big day. Predictably, its the initially Mr. Wrong, played nicely by James Marsden, who after several silly, booze enhanced encounters, turns out to not be so wrong after all.
Sure, weve seen this kind of thing before and whatever charm there once was in those loose and goosey sing along scenes has long since evaporated. But there are a few observations here that do make this one peek through its not very ambitious cloud. I dare any bridesmaid not to call up memories of helping a bride de-poof in the ladies room and the very concept of a closet door that wont shut because of all that crinoline is the funny, honest stuff that could have made this puffy romantic comedy worth the R.S.V.P.
