Reviews

The people who ripped into the movie for portraying a one-dimensional Canada or taking potshots at Bush are missing the point.

Canada as a locale in the movie is merely a convenient shorthand-- it could have been Mexico or the UK or Australia, the point is that it's a foreign country. Calling 'Blue State' "anti-Canadian propaganda" is a bit like calling South Park's portrayal of egghead Canadians "anti-Canadian propaganda".

And, it may be just me, but I felt that 'Blue State' pokes more fun at the Democrat zealot than of Dubya-- for a considerable portion of the movie, and when he's on tirade-mode, it seems to me that John is portrayed as a sad, almost ridiculous figure.

That aside, the leads are believable and exhibit romantic chemistry, and make their characters likable. Especially Breckin Meyer-- as written, John is a self-important, uptight person for most of the film, but Meyer imbues his character with humanity.

Overall a mild political satire and competent, heartfelt romantic road trip.

I felt that 27 Dresses was good-- indeed, it exceeded expectations. I was expecting a light, disposable chick-flick with Katherine Heigl. It was a good chick-flick, but more: I felt that it navigated the clichés adroitly. The clichés used were done well, and for the most part it wasn't over the top. I only rolled my eyes once (near the end of the movie), which is something in a chick flick.

None of the characters are caricatures, and I feel that at least some effort had gone in to make them rounded individuals. This is especially true of the main character's sister Tess-- although she's a one-time slut , shallow and untruthful, she also loves her man, and reveres her sister. And James Marsden, in the male lead, for once, isn't bland man-candy, as male leads in movies like this tend to be. Of course, there's still the stock 'best-friend', but she doesn't play a large part, and seems a tad more edgy than most "best-friend" roles.

The one character that carries the movie, though, is Jane the female protagonist. Her Jane, it has to be said, is pretty much Izzie Stevens redux: perky young woman who is very nice, and has a fondness and lack of cynicism about things (festivals with Izzie, weddings with Jane). Unlike Izzie, however, Jane isn't forced to cavort to a ridiculously stretched-out script. Hence 27 Dresses, in a sense, takes my favourite character from Grey's Anatomy and shows what can be done with such a character without the fetters of television season format.

Katherine Heigl pulls this character off masterfully. After all, she could hardly have not, after three seasons of practice. Her face isn't classically beautiful, nor does she have a killer figure (she has flab), but she has a radiant smile and perky energy which is infectious.

The script helps things along immensely. It's not particularly melodramatic, and big speeches and confrontations are kept to a minimum. The climax was tastefully handled-- in a twist, the Public Snub, a stock situation of romantic movies, isn't portrayed as entirely triumphant. Even the Public Declaration of Love near the end is low-key. For my part, it is the reason the movie worked as it did.

Definitely worth the price of admission, I say.