“27 Dresses” (20th Century Fox)
At Last, A Fairly Clean Comedy
“27 Dresses” is a new romantic comedy starring Katherine Heigl that is funny, romantic and for the most part clean! Now that is a new concept, a comedy that doesn’t over utilize every dirty word or sexual combination available. Here’s hoping it makes some money at the box office so we don’t have to be subjected to a year of “Good Luck, Chuck” clones.
Katherine Heigl plays Jane, a young woman who loves weddings. She is forever making all the arrangements for the weddings of her fiends and then serves as a bridesmaid. She has twenty-seven bridesmaid dresses in her closet. Okay, maybe she is a little obsessive about weddings.
Jane is also obsessive about her boss, George (Edward Burns). She worships him from afar but when she finally gets up the nerve to tell him her feelings, he meets Jane’s sister Tess (Malin Akerman). They fall in love immediately and Jane is on the outside looking in.
There is a man in Jane’s life and his name is Kevin (James Marsden). He is a writer and someone who for no good reason annoys the heck out of Jane. Of course the audience knows form the start he is a perfect match for her but she can’t seem to see anyone but George.
The film is fairly predictable but who cares. Heigl and Marsden are such talented and charismatic actors that they could make any story good and a rather good one like this one even better. They are two actors you just enjoy watching on screen.
Heigl of course is a fixture on “Grey’s Anatomy.” She also was the star of the major comedy hit “Knocked Up.” Marsden scored points for his performances in “Hairspray” and “Enchanted.” Together these are two of the hottest actors on the scene today and the combination of their talents produces a winner of a movie.
The film is rated PG-13 for profanity, which is not excessive. Unlike many other movies, every person in the film does not swear like a sailor.
Akerman and Burns give solid support to the goings on while Judy Greer has funny moment after funny moment as Jane’s acerbic best friend. Brian Kerwin is paternal as Jane and Tess’ widowed father.
If you have been hoping for a movie you could watch without being embarrassed, this is the one. It has some dirty words but they are few and far between. Plus the story and the stars are so likable you have to forgive any and all transgressions.
I scored “27 Dresses” a dressed down 7 out of 10.
