Katherine Heigl’s Solid Performance Can’t Save 27 Dresses From Its Own Formula

Jane Nichols has been a bridesmaid 27 times. That is the premise of 27 Dresses, and it is also the limit of the movie’s ambition. Katherine Heigl plays Jane, an altruistic woman who has spent years smoothing out other people’s weddings. When her younger sister Tess (Malin Akerman) announces her engagement to Jane’s boss George, the setup is simple: Jane loves George, George does not see her, and now the woman who has been a bridesmaid too many times watches her sister steal the man she wants.

Anne Fletcher directs from a script by Aline Brosh McKenna, the writer behind The Devil Wears Prada. The film was produced by Spyglass Entertainment and distributed by 20th Century Fox. Principal photography took place in New York City and Rhode Island from May to July 2007. The movie premiered in Los Angeles on January 9, 2008, and reached theaters in the United States on January 18. It grossed $162.7 million worldwide against a $30 million budget.

Trailer, via YouTube Movies.

Jane and the Bridesmaid Habit

The plot follows Jane from age eight, when she helped a bride through a crisis before her wedding ceremony. That experience hooked her, and she has loved weddings ever since. Two decades later, she has been a bridesmaid at 27 weddings, always putting others first. The film sets up a clear arc: Jane’s selflessness has kept her from getting what she wants, and now her sister is about to marry the man she secretly adores.

The problem is that the setup is so simple that the film never finds a way to complicate it. Jane’s predicament is relatable, but the movie treats her feelings as a fixed condition rather than a character trait to explore. She loves weddings, she loves George, she loves her sister, and that is all there is to it.

Kevin Doyle and the Commitments Story

James Marsden plays Kevin Doyle, a cynical reporter who writes under the pseudonym “Malcolm.” He disdains Jane’s romantic ideals and uses her Filofax day planner to research her. Kevin pitches a story about Jane to his editor, promising a feature article if it lands on the Commitments section’s front page. His presence is meant to be a counterweight to Jane’s earnestness, but the dynamic feels thin rather than sharp.

Brian Kerwin plays Hal Nichols, Jane’s father. Edward Burns plays George, Jane’s boss and the object of her affection. Judy Greer plays Casey, Jane’s friend and coworker. Melora Hardin plays Maureen. Maulik Pancholy plays Trent. David Castro plays Pedro. Krysten Ritter plays Gina the Goth. Michael Paul plays Taxi Fahrer Khaleel. Jennifer Lim plays the Bridal Salesgirl.

What Works and What Doesn’t

Heigl carries the film. Her performance is warm and committed, and she sells the emotional stakes even when the script does not give her much to work with. The supporting cast fills out the picture without much depth, but the film moves quickly enough that none of it drags.

The film’s weakest element is its formula. Jane’s predicament is presented as a fresh idea, but the story spends most of its runtime repeating the same beats: Jane does something kind, Tess acts selfishly, Kevin observes, Jane suffers, and the cycle starts again. The repetition is not disguised as wit; it is just repetition.

• The premise is clever but underdeveloped.
• Heigl’s performance is strong.
• The supporting cast fills out the picture without much depth.
• The formulaic structure is the film’s biggest weakness.

A Mixed Reception

27 Dresses received mixed reviews from critics. The praise centered on Heigl’s performance, while the criticism targeted the plot’s formula. The film was a commercial success, which is the only measure that mattered to its makers.

There is nothing wrong with a pleasant, predictable comedy. But a pleasant, predictable comedy should know what it is and stop before it exhausts its premise. 27 Dresses does not stop. It keeps returning to the same beats until the 111-minute runtime feels stretched rather than generous.

The Verdict

27 Dresses is a likable film that never quite earns its title. Katherine Heigl gives a solid performance, and the movie has a few funny moments, but the plot’s formula is too thin to sustain a full-length feature. The film’s central idea — a woman who has been a bridesmaid too many times — is clever, but the execution never matches the promise.

The movie is best enjoyed as a guilty pleasure rather than a serious entry in the romantic comedy canon. It is not a failure, but it is not a triumph either.

Key Facts

• Title: 27 Dresses
• Year: 2008
• Director: Anne Fletcher
• Writer: Aline Brosh McKenna
• Runtime: 111 minutes
• Budget: $30 million
• Box office: $162.7 million
• Score: 4.7 of 10

2008 Film · Anne Fletcher · Katherine Heigl · movie review · romantic comedy