27 Dresses

Movie review by S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media
27 Dresses Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 13+

Frothy wedding romcom is fun but filled with profanity.

PG-13 2008 107 minutes
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Parents say

age 12+

Based on 15 reviews

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 69 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that although this film is fairly charming and no more objectionable, content-wise, than most other Hollywood romantic comedies (that is, if you don't object to movies that fully embrace romcom clichés), there is a fairly liberal sprinkling of swear words (particularly "s--t") and drinking. The message -- that women aren't truly happy if they're always the bridesmaid but never the bride -- verges on being a little overly retro, but since the movie is so frothy, it manages to get away with that such old-fashioned thinking. Star Katherine Heigl was in the hit comedy Knocked Up, so teens (particularly girls) will likely be interested.

Community Reviews

goodgirl
goodgirl Adult
January 10, 2017
age 12+

i don't have a problem with it.

I liked it. good movie for teens 12 and up . not bad.

This title has:

Great messages
wonder dove
wonder dove Adult
July 3, 2013
age 13+

Not bad...

The movie isn't great, but it's not bad either. Definitely watchable if you like chick flicks with happy endings. It's basically about a young woman named Jane who has a lot of friends and has been a bridesmaid way too many times. She's in love with her boss but when her happy-go-lucky sister Tess pops by for a visit and meets him, they are instantly attracted to each other, which of course breaks Jane's heart. She meets journalist Kevin who both get off on the wrong foot but after much hanging out, they end up together after discovering that her chances with her boss is out of the question because he's engaged to Tess and they're planning a wedding. Lots of ups and downs from there, the story ends happily. Language is not too bad, a few uses of sh*t and some other common words throughout. Sexual content includes a few scenes of making out, two people sleep together (off screen - nothing shown), a lot of flirting. Violence has some arguing and bickering, a woman slaps her best friend in the face really hard, a woman slaps a man. There is heavy drinking in one scene where two people get happily drunk. Okay for the mature 14+ crowd, no real role models or good messages in this one though!

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 15 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Jane Nichols (Katherine Heigl) is a people pleaser to the core; she'll happily twist herself into a pretzel juggling two weddings in one night and playing second banana to Bridezillas -- which is how she's ended up in more than 20 wedding parties. Enter Kevin "Malcolm" Doyle (James Marsden) -- the journalist who writes Jane's favorite wedding column -- who helps her see how debilitating her selflessness has become. They hate each other at first, but then (no surprise) wind up together. Meanwhile, Jane's millionaire boss (Ed Burns) doesn't realize that she's madly infatuated with him. Instead, he falls for her vampy but vacuous sister, Tess (Malin Akerman).

Is It Any Good?

How anyone could swap Jane for Tess is a serious mystery -- just one of a number of 27 DRESSES' irritating, albeit small, flaws. On the other hand, there are some rewards -- like Judy Greer, who plays Casey, Jane's saucy, witty best friend. The movie also benefits from director Anne Fletcher's light-and-easy style (thankfully, she doesn't take the subject matter seriously) and, more importantly, the Heigl's effervescence. She and Marsden have great chemistry, making their predictable arc fairly entertaining.

The verdict: Brilliant 27 Dresses isn't, and there's something dated about the idea that a woman isn't happy when she's playing bridesmaid instead of bride. Considering that the movie was written by Aline Brosh McKenna, who also penned the bitingly exquisite The Devil Wears Prada, a bit more inventiveness shouldn't have been out of the question. But anyone who's donned a bridesmaid dress and has a romantic streak will enjoy this conventional confection -- consider it a no-guilt slice of wedding cake.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the film's message. What's wrong with being a bridesmaid? Is a woman truly not happy if she's never the bride? How does Hollywood contribute to this thinking? Families can also discuss weddings: Have they become, as one character says in the movie, an industry that capitalizes on romantic ideals? What truly makes a wedding special, if it's not the presents, the fancy dresses, and the over-the-top receptions?

Movie Details

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