This Review Reveals Minor Details About the Plot.
Wedding Record
Plot Overview
New York small business owner Hal (Brian
Kerwin) was in a bad way when his wife died, but he hired help to
man the counter, and his eight-year-old daughter Jane (Peyton Roi
List) took a maternal interest in doing his tie and tying the bow
in her younger sister (Charli Barcena) Tess's blond hair at a
cousin's wedding. Then having escorted Tess to the ladies' room
she's interrupted by the bride with a wardrobe
malfunction (“Sh!t!”) She repairs
it with her sister's bow and is rewarded with the privilege of
carrying the bride's train in the procession. She wants to make a
habit of it, but first she cares for her sister (“I
practically raised her”) long after she's needed, and then
she mothers her boss George (Edward Burns) making herself
indispensable. Jane (Katherine Heigl) gives her all to a
fault (“I'm Jesus”) as bridesmaid/maid of honor to
a succession of blushing worthies.
When now grown fashion model Tess
(Malin Akerman) comes to stay with Jane for a time, she puts on an
act (“Men just become hypnotized by her voodoo”) when
Jane introduces her to her boss, and they end up
precipitously engaged. “Commitments” section
writer for the New York Journal Malcolm
“Kevin” Doyle (James Marsden) has to interview
friends & family of the couple for his piece, and so he ends up
in Jane's “tiny” apartment. There he discovers her
collection of 27 dresses from 30 weddings—one dress did triple
duty, and Jane didn't want any mementos from the cross-dressing event.
His reluctantly published feature pressured by his
editor embarrasses all the principals. It's as author Robert
McAllister has written, “Look, Rabbi, I know something
about newspapermen. They're very touchy about what they
can and can't write.” (315)
Jane who moons for her boss told
Tess of his flaws that, truth be told, were “not deal
breakers.” The deal breaker of one of Tess's flaws, though,
was consigned to Deleted
Scenes, being “The Rescue of Gatsby,” George's
precious pooch, which I refrain from describing so as not to ruin
the reputation of blondes everywhere. It's a judgement
call whether Tess's revealed flaws will be deal breakers.
In the wedding preparation process, Jane and Kevin found themselves sharing a motorcar for an errand excursion when it started to rain and they hydroplaned and wrecked it. There was no cell service where they ended up. They repaired to a bar whose phone didn't work, either. Kevin has three fingers of scotch and Jane has “just one” (“I never do this.”) Jump ahead to them dancing on the bar (“I never do this”) and finally to the stranded car where we see (“I never do this”) Jane removing Kevin's shirt before (“I never do this”) getting into the back seat with him. We are never shown what Jane never does.
Her boss needing a date in a pinch takes Jane, and he finally makes a move on her being his date not his assistant per se. There are more than one formulaic endings possible in this screwball picture.
Ideology
“27 Dresses” is good in a minor way of portraying
biblical formulas for success à la: (Prov. 30:24) “There be four things
which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:”
(Prov. 30:25) “The ants are a people
not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer.” It is
good to start developing able work habits at an early age, in the
summer of life. George practices “shagging some flies”
with his little brother Pedro (David Castro) from the Big Brother
program at the Y. He introduces him
to Tess who tries to hit some balls, as well. Jane discovers him
going to town cleaning George's apartment while he is out. Tess
there explains, “He was looking for a part-time job. He's
cleaning the apartment.” Tess asks Jane, “Look, don't
tell George.” Evidently, Jane wants credit as a
homemaker. At a wedding event, Pedro announces, “Tess is
really, really cool, 'cause she's gonna help me start my own
cleaning business. I'm only doing George's place right now, but if
anybody is in the market for a really good cleaning service,
please see me in the lobby.”
(Prov. 30:26) “The conies are but a
feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.” The
rocks offer the wee conies protection. Location is ever so
important in one's occupation. Jane explains George's case,
“He dropped out of college and then climbed every major peak
in the world. Then started his own business Urban Everest from his
apartment and turned it into one of the most eco-friendly
philanthropic businesses in the world, all before he was
thirty.” He took advantage of NYC's opportunities even though, “He
would rather spend all his time outside than anywhere
else.” He still climbs Mt. Whitney on weekends.
Tess's interest in furry creatures is for the kind women wear, but
George doesn't know that.
(Prov. 30:27) “The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands.” It's good to have an informal support network. Jane had met Kevin informally at a wedding event (“We both work the wedding circuit”) before they'd ever gotten involved professionally. Thus he was able to gain entrance to her apartment upon knocking rather than interview her from the door or by phone. And so he discovered her dress collection, which led to his feature article.
(Prov. 30:28) “The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.” That palace gets swept regularly, but the spider just spins a new web. Jobs routinely fall through, by and by, but the enterprising spider secures another. Tess got fired from her modeling gig in Milan (“For some reason girls just don't like me; I don't understand why”) but she was able to secure a new opening back in the states.
Production Values
“” (2008) was directed by Anne Fletcher. The screenplay was written by Aline Brosh McKenna. It stars Katherine Heigl, James Marsden and Malin Akerman. Heigl and Marsden work well together holding down the main roles. Akerman does a good job repeating her “Bridezilla” role she played in, “The Heartbreak Kid,” the upcoming bride with hidden faults. The one outstanding part was by Judy Greer playing best friend cum über cynic Casey. All the main cast were swell.
MPA rated it PG–13 for language, some innuendo and sexuality. It was filmed on location in Rhode Island standing in for New York, with appropriate background shots added in. The dresses were chosen to be gaudy, a challenge with Heigl's fine figure who made them look good on her. Runtime is 1 hour 51 minutes.
Review Conclusion w/a Christian's Recommendation
The weddings were in large churches or other venues that could accommodate a crowd. The vows were standard though largely off camera. The sartorial styles varied. It was a feel-good movie with lots of silliness and hit-or-miss humor. It's a chick flick par excellence.
Movie Ratings
Action Factor: Weak action scenes. Suitability for Children: Suitable for children 13+ years with guidance. Special effects: Average special effects. Video Occasion: Good for Groups. Suspense: Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Overall movie rating: Four stars out of five.
Works Cited
Scripture was quoted from the King James Version. Pub. 1611, rev. 1769. Software.
McAllister, Robert with Floyd Miller. The Kind of Guy I Am. Copyright © 1957 by Robert McAlister and Floyd Miller. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1957. Print.
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