Post by BIGFANBOY on Jan 11, 2008 7:54:22 GMT -5
27 DRESSES
review by Josh Stratton
review by Josh Stratton
Let's face it, my boy Jimmy Marsden has been given the short end of the stick when it comes to his cinematic leading ladies.
His Lon Hammond Jr. was dumped by Rachel McAdams' Allie Hamilton for Ryan Gosling in The Notebook. Scott Summers' girlfriend, Famke Janssen's Jean Grey, was all over Hugh Jackman's Logan from the first frame of the X-Men movies. Nice guy Richard White couldn't stand up to Kate Bosworth's Lois Lane's big Blue Crush. And even Prince Charming, er, Edward had to play second fiddle to McDreamy for the affection of Amy Adams' Giselle.
The boy's had a hard decade.
And just when it looked as though the only girl he ended up with would be Katie "Bride of Xenu" Holmes, well, along comes a little post-Christmas gift: 27 Dresses.
The movie centers on Jane, a self-made uber-Bridesmaid working and living in New York City, played by Grey's Anatomy's Katherine Heigl. At a young age, Jane finds that making people happy on their wedding day is what she was meant to do in life. That and playing the role of mother for her younger sister, Tess.
Jane works as an executive assistant to George, played by Edward Burns (Nice to see him doing something other than guest spots on Entourage and the upcoming abysmal One Missed Call). George is the ultimate great catch. He's outgoing, rich, adventurous, earth-friendly, and, of course, is completely oblivious to Jane's attraction to him. Their working relationship over the years has led to point that George no longer even realizes that he's taking advantage.
This comes to no surprise to anyone, least of all Jane and her best friend, Casey, played by the infallible Judy Greer (Someone get her a Canadian-based series, Stat! Preferably one on HBO or Showtime).
But it's not as though Jane has time to pine over the unrequited George, no she is much too busy planing and attending the several weddings for her friends, hence racking up the titular 27 dresses. Two such weddings converging on the same night. It's here that Jane bumps into Kevin, our boy Jimmy. It's a cute-meet after Jane is tackled to the ground trying to catch the bouquet. Problem is, Kevin is bitter and cynical toward the institution that Jane has dedicated her life to.
You see where this is heading, don't you?
Then, to make matters worse, Jane's kid sister Tess rolls back into town. Tess here is played by Malin Akerman, who hasn't much to her name other than the horrible Heartbreak Kid and the retched Brothers Solomon. But she is slated to be Laurie Juspeczyk in 2009's the Watchmen, so here's hoping. Anyway, Akerman plays the role of selfish, spoiled brat somewhat convincingly. And is able to wrench up the tension when George predictably falls for her.
Re-enter Kevin, a writer for the New York Journal Wedding Section, who just happens to be Jane's favorite writer, under a pseudonym of course! See, George has proposed to Tess, and the whirlwind romance is coming to a head with a wedding in just 3 weeks time. And to add insult to injury, Jane is asked to be maid of honor AND plan the wedding of the man she loves to her kid sister! Oh, the humanity!
Will Jane ever tell George her true feelings? Will she ever be able to say "no" to anyone? Will she and Kevin perform a scotch-fueled Karaoke rendition of Elton John's Benny & the Jets? Will Jimmy Marsden ever get the girl?
You will find the answers to all these questions and more when Anne Fletcher's 27 Dresses opens on January 11, 2008.
