27 Dresses

The Age

Friday January 11, 2008

Philippa Hawker

27 Dresses

2/5 (100 mins) PG

A lacklustre "always a bridesmaid" comedy starring Katherine Heigl (Knocked Up, Grey's Anatomy) as Jane, a compulsive organiser of other people's weddings who has an unreciprocated crush on her oblivious boss (Edward Burns).

Only when her younger sister (Malin Akerman) catches the boss' eye does Jane's dedication begin to crumble. Meanwhile, a sardonic writer (James Marsden of Hairspray) whom she meets at a wedding seems determined to undermine her belief in the virtues of "I do".

27 Dresses is hard work for its star and audience. Jane is so needy and narrowly focused she leaves Heigl little to work with and it's almost uncomfortable to watch her feverish attempts to give the character some comic energy. Marsden is at least more relaxed - with a better script, they could have been an interesting romantic comedy duo.

Judy Greer, as Jane's sardonic best friend, provides the film with some welcome wit and scepticism.

© 2008 The Age

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