Movie review – “27 Dresses” (2007) **1/2

All a rom com needs is a slightly different concept and the right star and it’ll make money, which this one did. I really liked Katherine Heigl in Knocked Up – didn’t warm to her as much here. Maybe her character was a bit too creepily familiar for comfort – the professional bridesmaid, the person who rejoices in being a slave. (It’s a strong concept, indeed one strong enough to explore in a darker film.) Enjoyable froth, a bit lazy in its casting: Judy Greer as yet another best friend, Ed Burns as yet another false love interest, Malin Ackerman as yet another man eater, James Marsden as yet another handsome lunk (and never remotely believable as an even-vaguely-hard-bitten reporter - and it’s creepy that he rifles through her filofax), Marsden’s best friend is played by an Indian actor as if to compensate for the fact it’s a nothing part with nothing to do. But there are some funny moments and the central idea is a strong one.