Today’s quick review: 27 Dresses. Jane Nichols (Katherine Heigl) has been a bridesmaid 27 times without getting married herself. Her sister Tess (Malin Akerman) dashes Jane’s last hope when she starts dating George (Edward Burns), Jane’s boss and long-time crush. Forced to bite her tongue and give away the man of her dreams, Jane receives unexpected support from Kevin Doyle (James Marsden), a cynical wedding columnist.
27 Dresses is a romantic comedy that pairs a perpetual bridesmaid with a writer who doesn’t believe in marriage. Katherine Heigl stars as Jane, who has mastered every part of the wedding process except for having one herself. 27 Dresses features a charming premise, a likable lead, and skillful dialogue. While it does not reach beyond the conventions of its genre, its quality makes it an enjoyable pick for romantic comedy fans.
27 Dresses picks an interesting angle for its protagonist. Jane’s fatal flaw is that she is too self-sacrificing. While everyone else around her has dream weddings that Jane coordinates, Jane sacrifices her last shred of happiness to her self-centered sister. Katherine Heigl does a great job of portraying a kind woman who’s just barely holding on, while James Marsden makes for a sharp foil, needling Jane to think of herself for once.
Give 27 Dresses a shot if you are in the mood for a light love story with solid writing. 27 Dresses does not break the mold, but its fruitful conflicts, consistent humor, and simple but effective character development make it a satisfying watch. Steer clear if you dislike sentimentality.
For another romantic comedy starring Katherine Heigl, try The Ugly Truth. For a romantic comedy about serial wedding guests, check Wedding Crashers or Four Weddings and a Funeral. For one about a man with a keen fear of commitment, try Wedding Crashers or Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.
[6.1 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0988595/). I give it a 7.0 for entertaining dialogue and good character work.