The Review - AT THE MOVIES with WILLIAM HALL Published: 27 March 2008
Unveiling a sparkling script that makes wed flick a bride and joy
27 DRESSES
Directed by Anne Fletcher
Certificate 12a
ALWAYS the bridesmaid, never the bride – that’s the fate of lovelorn Jane Nichols (Katherine Heigl) and it looks as if it will stay that way. It is also the reason why 27 beautiful dresses are hanging up in her closet, relics from the weddings she has attended but where she never caught the bridal bouquet. You’d never guess it from Jane’s demeanour. She’s a perky redhead who nurses a secret crush on her handsome clothing company boss George (Edward Burns) beneath a veneer of taking care of others, but never looking after herself.
The problem with George is that he’s the muscular outdoors type who climbs mountains for a hobby.
He hasn’t even noticed that the girl of every man’s dreams is in the outer office: beautiful, indispensable and available.
So it’s only a matter of time before another Mr Right turns up in the shape of a cynical journalist (James Marsden) assigned to cover weddings for a New York society magazine, a rough diamond wearing jeans and designer stubble amid the morning suits.
When they start arguing, that clinches it: he’s the one. Or is he?
The script, as bubbly as a glass of champagne, is from Aline Brosh McKenna, who wrote The Devil Wears Prada, and it has that same feel-good sparkle.
I just wish there were more films like this one to leave us with a spring in our step – but this will do nicely for the moment.