Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Frothy romcom is fun but has profanity, drinking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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27 Dresses
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 13 parent reviews
Based on 56 kid reviews
Kids say this film is a charming romantic comedy that is perfect for sleepovers and young adults, though it does contain some mild language, drinking scenes, and suggestive references. While many find it cute and funny, there's a consensus that it's best suited for those aged 12 and up due to its content.
- cute romance
- sleepover favorite
- mild language
- alcohol references
- age suitability
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In 27 DRESSES, 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 this movie's pesky, 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
- In theaters : January 17, 2008
- On DVD or streaming : April 28, 2008
- Cast : Edward Burns , James Marsden , Katherine Heigl
- Director : Anne Fletcher
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 107 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language, some innuendo and sexuality.
- Last updated : October 25, 2024
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