27 Dresses Review

Ah, the romantic comedy.

If you go to or watch movies with any sort of regularity, you can tell exactly how pretty much every mainstream romantic comedy is going to end. Usually, you don't even have to watch the movie because you can tell, just from the previews, who the girl is going to end up with — and "27 Dresses" is no different.

The story — about a successful, but lovelorn woman who's been a bridesmaid 27 times — is appropriately far-fetched (27 times?! Really?!) The movie also features many of the rom-com staples we've seen before, and even come to expect — there's the sarcastic best friend, a goofy sing along and, you don't believe this, but ***SPOILER ALERT*** the guy and girl don't even like each other at first ***END OF SPOILER ALERT***

So, since we know all this going in, the strength of these types of movies depends heavily on how much you like the actors (after all, since you know where you're going, you might as well be in the company of people you like for the next 100 minutes) and what twists the filmmakers can throw in to keep things interesting.

In my opinion, "27 Dresses" does a great job in both regards.

Though I mostly can't stand her chronic overacting on "Grey's Anatomy", I've realized that I like Katherine Heigl as a movie star. (I also realized that I do a surprisingly decent impersonation of her character on "Grey's Anatomy" — ask Erica). This may be the rare case where a TV actor is actually much better suited for the big screen (whereas a lot crash and burn when they try to make the jump).

In "27 Dresses" she's likeable and, for an actress with movie-star looks, surprisingly believable as a somewhat shy, neurotic and plain looking person (her name is even Jane).

Also, I love how, in movies, someone who's plain or mousy usually has darker hair, which is in contrast to Malin Akerman's blonde 'do as Jane's sister Tess who sweeps into town and gets engaged to Jane's boss (Edward Burns), who Jane is not-so secretly in love with. Akerman has a few funny moments as the self-centered sibling, but Burns often looked like he had just been awoken from a nap right before it was time to shoot his scenes.

Fortunately, my boy James Marsden was around and FINALLY playing the lead in one of these things instead of being the "other" guy. He was funny, had solid chemistry with Heigl, and they even figured a way to get his character to sing. Marsden plays a bored, cynical, reporter (is there any other kind?) writing a fluff piece on Jane and her sister, and I like to think his character was based on me — because I like James Marsden and I like making things about me.

The movie's other MVP is Judy Greer as Jane's sarcastic, slightly alcoholic best friend. Hopefully, she'll get to lead one of these movies one day. Greer leads a very funny and amusing group of supporting players including a few familiar faces from my favorite sitcoms (Melora Hardin of "The Office" and Maulik Pancholy of "30 Rock" and "Weeds"), as well as a particularly overzealous and zany bride and a particularly overzealous and zany "Bennie and the Jets" fan.

Director Anne Fletcher (who wrote "The Devil Wears Prada") does a very good job of keeping things moving (so the guys won't get bored), while giving her target audience (the gals) everything they wanted — beautiful clothes (some of the wedding dresses and Jane's wardrobe), ugly clothes (the bridesmaid dresses) and big romantic kisses at the right time.

I enjoyed watching the audience, which was approximately 300% female, passionately react to the movie's big moments. They actually asked me to give up my Man Card before I entered the theatre — I thought I saw another guy there, but it just turned out to be this person.

I have a feeling they knew where the movie was going too, but they were just along for the entertaining ride. So was I.

27 Dresses...B+