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27 Dresses (2008)

Director: Anne Fletcher

3

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28 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out New York

You might be rolling your eyes and groaning at the thought of yet another nuptial-frenzied rom-com. In fact, you might just want to forgo the movie altogether and sit at home and read Rebecca Mead’s One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding in protest. But if you are dragged to this, you may be pleasantly surprised by the personable qualities of its leads and antagonists, Katherine Heigl and James Marsden.

Still, the film has plenty to make you grumpy. The most tedious shots of the New York skyline signify the general mediocrity of this tale of Jane (Heigl), a perennial bridesmaid and an enabling assistant to an eco-mogul (Burns) whom she’s also in love with, and Kevin (Marsden), a journalist stuck in the “taffeta ghetto” writing wedding announcements. Director Anne Fletcher, a choreographer whose helming debut was the bad boy–good girl dance drama Step Up (2006), can at least film a convincing electric slide. The script by Aline Brosh McKenna shows little of the assistant-lit zing evident in her screenplay for The Devil Wears Prada. But verbal sparring is presented as a virtue, and anger redeemed as energy. They’re no Hepburn and Tracy, but Heigl—her quivering double chin a welcome sight in a profession of dangerously low BMI—and Marsden skillfully find the believable traits in their characters and turn them into some semblance of adults. And after her hideous love object in Knocked Up, it’s nice to see Heigl’s Jane end up with a more worthy companion.

Author: Melissa Anderson 2008-01-15 17:46:13

Time Out New York Issue 642: January 17-23

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User reviews of this film

  • HAYL3Yx said...
    Posted on Apr 29 2008 11:16 This Film Is Awesome! SHUT THE HELL UP MOTHERPUCKER
    Report as inappropriate
  • sophie said...
    Posted on Apr 17 2008 05:11 are you acareded michaela ?
    Report as inappropriate
  • lora_ ox said...
    Posted on Apr 17 2008 05:10 H3YYYYY SUMM3RR _ OX
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  • Marissa said...
    Posted on Apr 03 2008 21:53 Utterly predictable. Cringingly not funny. Uses every cliché known to lazy scriptwriters.
    I'm sure I came out more stupid than I went in.
    Report as inappropriate
  • Lora x said...
    Posted on Apr 03 2008 05:48 THIS FILM IS SICK N H3Y SUMM3R BABY XXXXXXXX
    Report as inappropriate
  • Jules said...
    Posted on Apr 02 2008 03:00 Those of you who have seen this movie. Is there anything in it that would make it unsuitable to take three 9 year olds to see it for a birthday treat?
    Report as inappropriate
  • MP said...
    Posted on Feb 08 2008 15:21 I was yet another who saw the "double chin" comment (on another site), and wondered if I had failed to notice Heigl's explosive weight gain ... and I had not. Then, I came here and read "hideous love object " and recognized a shallow, empty-headed review that (as so many have commented) only serves to contribute to a society's obsession with appearance over substance.
    Pitiful.
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  • Susan said...
    Posted on Feb 07 2008 14:24 I was dumbstruck, as so many others were, by the "double chin" comment. Heigl is very thin, by any normal person's standards. I, for one, will never be that thin, and yet she is the victim of a "chubby" joke? What does a woman have to do to be accepted by her own... look like the Crypt Keeper??!!
    Report as inappropriate
  • arielle said...
    Posted on Feb 05 2008 18:57 This movie was one of the best I have seen in a long time and no one will tell me otherwise. For people who hate this movie try making a movie yourself
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  • Mary said...
    Posted on Feb 04 2008 22:56 First off, I must echo the outcries of previous commenters regarding the ridiculous "double chin" statement. Katherine Heigl is thin and gorgeous! The movie is not great--your typical formulaic romantic comedy--but there are some laughs. I'd suggest you see it if you just want some mindless fun, but don't expect anything mindblowing.
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  • Rick said...
    Posted on Feb 01 2008 10:31 Sometimes a movie need not be a life changing experience to be good. Simple romantic comedies, dramas, or even action films can be entertaining. And this movie was not bad at all. Maybe you're not getting any that's why you don't enjoy anything. Go to Iraq, maybe you'll appreciate life's little things more.
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  • Pat said...
    Posted on Jan 30 2008 16:32 I saw the movie last night and was pleasantly surprised. This is a bright new romantic comedy star. Yes, it was cliche, but both the leads did an excellent job with what they had to work with. I have gone to superstar movies that came off less agreeable!
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  • rlbunker said...
    Posted on Jan 26 2008 17:02 Saw it today. Wonderful performances. Feel goo movie. Maybe someone who reviews movies should enjoy actually going to movies. What a concept. This was fun, and Heigl's performance and physical comedy skills were terrific. The plot is soewhat cliche but well presented. Ignore the jaded review and go have a good time.
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  • Catalina said...
    Posted on Jan 26 2008 13:14 I don't know if you meant to be sarcastic when you made the jab at her "double chin". Maybe you were actually making a jab at the fact that in a world and profession that IS filled with dangerously low BMI's someone healthy (still not fat in the slightest) like Heigl seems like she has a quivering chin relative to the anorexics. I really hope you were being sarcastic because otherwise you need to do some serious soul searching.
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  • amta said...
    Posted on Jan 26 2008 11:10 honestly, why don't you just go eat a tub of ben and jerry;s? you're obviously jealous of the gorgeous actress and should be ashamed of yourself. you must be a real jealous fatty. with people like you around its no wonder this world is screwed up.
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27 Dresses

Cast & crew

Director: Anne Fletcher

Cast: Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Edward Burns, Malin Akerman, Judy Greer, Randy Edelman, Peter James full cast

Genre(s): Comedy

Rated: PG-13

Duration: 107 mins

US Release: Jan 18 2008


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