Manages to cover every wedding film cliche in the canon, and does so without yielding any genuine laughs
27 Dresses (2008)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:142
Fresh:57
Rotten:85
Average Rating:5/10
Consensus: The filmmakers perfectly follow the well-worn romantic comedy formula, rendering 27 Dresses clichéd and mostly forgettable.
Australian Rating: PG [See Full Rating] Mild sexual references and coarse language
Runtime: 1 hr 47 mins
Genre: Comedies
Australian Theatrical Release:
Jan 10, 2008 Wide
US Box Office: $76,624,274
Synopsis: KNOCKED UP's Katherine Heigl stars in this romantic comedy about a selfless young woman who is trapped in the role of perennial bridesmaid. Set in New York City, the film opens with Jane (Heigl)... KNOCKED UP's Katherine Heigl stars in this romantic comedy about a selfless young woman who is trapped in the role of perennial bridesmaid. Set in New York City, the film opens with Jane (Heigl) racing by cab to appear in two friends' weddings in the same night. She is the maid of honor for both fetes, and she rushes back and forth in time to shimmy to both electric slides. She meets Malcolm (James Marsden), a cynical young man who, unbeknownst to her, writes for a newspaper's wedding column. Malcolm is intrigued by the sheer number of times Jane has played bridesmaid, and he secretly decides to write a story about her. To further complicate Jane's life, her younger sister Tess (Malin Akerman) has just come to town and ensnared Jane's longtime crush, George (Edward Burns). When George and Tess become engaged, Jane faces the humiliating prospect of playing bridesmaid in the wedding of her sister and the man she loves. Meanwhile, Malcolm continues hounding Jane, and Jane's life and closet soon explode in a taffeta-tangled mess that forces her to make some big changes. Heigl is a pleasure to watch, as she has the kind of crowd-pleasing, no-nonsense presence that could ground any film, so 27 DRESSES greatly benefits from her comedic skill and charm. While the film features all of the hallmarks of chick flick fare (wacky best friend, dress-up sequence, obnoxious but strangely attractive love interest) the story often veers into territory that may leave some feeling it stretches even the romantic comedy standards for suspension of disbelief. Heigl deserves comparisons to Julia Roberts for her sheer likability, and like PRETTY WOMAN, women will likely watch 27 DRESSES as a pleasant diversion--aware of the fantasy, but still delighted by the attractive lady in the different outfits. [More]
Starring: Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Malin Akerman, Edward Burns
Starring: Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Malin Akerman, Edward Burns, Melora Hardin, Judy Greer
Director: Anne Fletcher
Director: Anne Fletcher
Screenwriter: Aline Brosh McKenna
Producer: Roger Birnbaum, Gary Barber, Jonathan Glickman
Composer: Randy Edelman
Studio: Fox 2000 Pictures
Reviews for 27 Dresses
Thanks to Katherine Heigl, this formulaic and saccharine sweet romantic comedy is more palatable than its predictable script and cardboard characters suggest. But I am disappointed in the film, which starts with a flourish, but fizzles into mediocrity.
Katherine Heigl and James Marsden bring out each other's best, coaxing a joyous, rambunctious spontaneity from one another. Sadly, the lazy, stagnant script shackles them.
They’re no Hepburn and Tracy, but Heigl -- her quivering double chin a welcome sight in a profession of dangerously low BMI -- and Marsden skillfully find the believable traits in their characters and turn them into some semblance of adults.
Frilly testament to the romantic secondary and homage to the nice girls who don't always finish last.
Anne Fletcher, a dancer/choreographer turned director, moves the film along smoothly, hitting the marks and timing the jokes right. It's connect-the-dots filmmaking by a talented tracer.
There are only a few moments that feel genuine and allow Katherine Heigel to smile. 27 Dresses is chock-full of cheese and eventually runs out of material.
A flick that's the equivalent of a bridesmaid dress: colorful, fluffy, and ultimately stored away, forgotten.
Katherine Heigl proves she deserves leading-lady status in this predictable but entertaining romantic comedy...
Katherine Heigl impresses and James Marsden is predictably dreamy in this always a bridesmaid never a you-know-what, been there, done that cliché-ridden formulaic rom-com.
27 Dresses is an illustration of what can result when the filmmakers possess a solid understanding of the romantic comedy formula and decide never to stray from it by one iota.
The clichés, like the dresses, sashay in and out of this predictable if nicely fluffy chick-flick composite, which manages to crank out a few decent laughs when it isn't wasting time on a pair of deadly supporting characters.
A palatable, frothy chick-flick confection with just enough fire in its belly to hold the attention and a star turn by Katherine Heigl, at heart this is as pleasantly vacuous as they come: 27 dresses and nothing going on.
27 Dresses is cinema for the simple-minded. Everything is spelled out for the audience in capital block letters.
27 Dresses sort of grows on you, thanks to Katherine Heigl's performance.
However lame and frustrating the screenplay - it is both - and however industrial the directing - very - 27 Dresses is not helplessly unappealing,
The filmic equivalent of a baby: cute, pampered, craving attention, and somewhat smelly thanks to all the formula passing through it.
Una mezcla de Experta en Bodas y La Boda de mi Mejor Amigo, pero sin la suficiente gracia. Katherine Heigl no es Julia Roberts, aunque tiene su encanto.
Latest News for 27 Dresses
January 08, 2009:
Dark Knight Sweeps People's Choice Awards ![]()
"The Dark Knight" cleaned up at the 35th annual People's Choice Awards, taking home hardware for favorite movie, action movie, cast, superhero, and onscreen matchup. More...
January 07, 2009:
People's Choice Awards Winners Announced
The 35th annual People's Choice Awards were handed out on January 7, 2009. A complete list of film nominees, with winners in bold, follows below. More...
April 28, 2008:
RT on DVD: The Golden Compass, 27 Dresses, and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
If you, like many others, opted out of The Golden Compass while it was in theaters, never fear; your chance to watch it at home has arrived. Then again, instead of picking up... More...
April 23, 2008:
UK Box Office Breakdown: Craig's Fool Has Disasterous Opening
Daniel Craig's new film - Flashbacks of a Fool - suffers a disastrous opening weekend, coming in at only 11th in the charts. Fool's Gold and Happy Go Lucky are the big successes More...
More DVDs
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 45% 45% | Shorts |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- 27 Dresses at Rotten Tomatoes
- 27 Dresses at IGN
Fresh Links
Featured

Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.

The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.

Double passes up for grabs to the new comedy starring Paul Giamatti.

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.
Competitions

Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser

Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.

We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection



Top Critic

