"27 DRESSES"
Starring Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Judy Greer, Malin Akerman
Released: Jan. 18, 2008

WATCH THE TRAILER

A good enough diversion for the evening, and it provides all of the necessary oohs and ahhs.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE single and lonely when, amidst the season of Oscar nominations and the year’s best films, your favorite movie was “27 Dresses.”

The film, written by Aline Brosh McKenna of “The Devil Wears Prada” fame and directed by Anne Fletcher, centers around the cliché “always a bridesmaid, never a bride.”

The main character, Jane, played by Katherine Heigl, has been in 27 weddings, none of which were her own. Undeterred, this young woman is sure that, eventually, her day will come.

Specifically, Jane would like the day to come with her boss, George (Edward Burns), whom she has been secretly in love with for years. But, when her younger, prettier, more successful and more selfish sister Tess (Malin Akerman) comes into town and sweeps George off his feet, Jane faces yet another turn as bridesmaid.

Meanwhile, journalist Kevin Doyle (James Marsden), who writes the wedding commitments for the style section of the local newspaper, is intrigued by a possible feature story about Jane. He thus sets about wooing her.

Sarcastic, pessimistic, and vehemently against weddings despite his profession, Kevin takes on the role of the “movie journalist,” a nasty reporter who doesn’t tell Jane about the story, gets close to her and lures her into a false sense of security, and then publishes all of her secrets and betrays her trust. Not that I’m bitter about this portrayal or anything.

This sets the stage for the formulaic conflict and resolution. And, as all good romantic comedies do, “27 Dresses” ends happily.

And what predictable movie is complete without cheesy didacticism? As Jane falls in love with Kevin, the last man in the world she thought she could like, she learns more about herself and about why she is always a bridesmaid. She learns to do things for herself, and to not spend all of her time helping other people. In doing so, she learns how to be a bride.

Yay! The anatomy of the chick flick is fulfilled once more. Of course, that means I loved the movie. The more banal, the better.

However, “27 Dresses” was not only likable because of its foolproof plot structure.

First of all, what teenage girl is not in love with Katherine Heigl? She’s pretty, smart, and understated, always playing a lovable protagonist. She essentially keeps the movie afloat with her charming smile and melodramatic slapping abilities. She’s a respectable actress and does a fine job playing the ready-to-please Jane.

Then there’s Marsden, who is, in my own words, “so cute.” He filled the shoes of adorable boy next door with much flare, and put on an endearing performance of Elton John's “Benny and the Jets.” He was very funny, and made it through bad dialogue that would have been the undoing of lesser love interests.

Finally, there is Judy Greer, who plays the slutty best friend Casey and the comic relief. Yet another stock character in the romantic comedy, her sarcasm and wit earn her more than a few laughs. A scene in which she continues to talk to Jane during yoga class, pissing the rest of the participants off, is particularly funny.

Also, the movie’s focus on marriage is an interesting choice, and not one as overdone in Hollywood. “27 Dresses” simultaneously makes fun of the sometimes-ridiculous wedding industry, yet it portrays marriage as an important tradition. It made me want to get married. Which, one could argue, is an improper effect for a movie to have on its female audience, but nevertheless shows how engaged (no pun intended) I became in the film.

Plus, the scene in which Jane models all 27 of her bridesmaid dresses is funny and cute, despite being a bit disturbing.

“27 Dresses” was a good enough diversion for the evening, and provided all of the necessary oohs and ahhs. Though Heigl was the only true bright spot, I had no complaints at the end of the movie. Naturally, I recommend it to women.

But that doesn’t mean boys shouldn’t go. Because, I mean, who doesn’t want to hear Jane explain to her grandmother that she doesn’t care she’s not getting married, because it means she still gets to have “hot hate sex with random strangers”?

“27 Dresses” is currently playing at the GKC Beverly 18, 910 Meijers Drive, Champaign, and Goodrich Savoy 16, 232 W. Burwash, Savoy.

“27 DRESSES” AT A GLANCE

• Starring: Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Judy Greer, Malin Akerman, Edward Burns
• Directed by: Anne Fletcher
• Written by: Aline Brosh McKenna
• Genre: Comedy, Romance
• Rated: PG-13
• Runtime: 107 min.
• Release date: Jan. 18, 2008
• Summary: She's been a bridesmaid 27 times. When will her own trip to the altar come?
• External sites: IMDb entry, Official site