27 Dresses: Romantic Comedy

Director Anne Fletcher and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna’s recent release, 27 Dresses, starring Katherine Heigl and James Marsden, fulfills many expectations of the romantic comedy genre, including a surprising love interest, the love chase, comedic relief, and a happy ending.

Heigl plays the movie’s protagonist who has been a bridesmaid 27 times, embodying the “always a bridesmaid, never a bride” stereotype. She is a hopeless romantic and saves clips by her favorite author who writes wedding announcements.

When the movie opens, Heigl’s initial love interest, her boss, does not notice her. Heigl unknowingly meets the wedding announcement author, played by Marsden, at a wedding. He secretly begins writing an article about Heigl and, obeying the rules of the romantic comedy, falls in love with her. However, Marsden is a cynic burned by love, and when Heigl learns he feigns the romantic feeling behind the wedding announcements he writes, she begins to lose faith in love. However, the two are conveniently stranded in an Upstate bar, get tipsy, and lead their fellow drinkers in a sing-along to “Benny and the Jets.” This scene follows the surprising or forbidden love interest requirement of the romantic comedy formula.

The love chase comes next. All romantic comedies end the same way, but the writers, directors, and actors do their best to make the audience build frustration and anticipation so the happy ending is all the more sweet once it finally comes. The article is published against Marsden’s wishes, and Heigl proceeds to call off their romance. Marsden persists, and eventually he rescues her from a public falling out she has with her sister and encourages her to start living her own life.

Before the happy ending, the movie does serve a few laughs, which any member of its genre must. Aside from several unsuccessful jokes about co-ed bridal showers and bridesmaid dress jokes, Heigl reminds us that she starred in the more successful romantic comedy Knocked Up by delivering some effective one-liners. At one point Marsden asks her if she ever gets frustrated with her role, and she responds by saying, “Well, of course. I’m not Jesus.”

27 Dresses culminates in a neat, happy ending delivered like a Christmas present with all the bows and trimming. Heigl and Marsden’s characters are getting married on the beach, and the audience can be relieved that the protagonist has finally made it to the altar. The true cherry on top is that all 27 women whose weddings Heigl was in are standing on the beach in the dresses Heigl wore when she was in their weddings.

27 Dresses is no cinematic masterpiece, but its audience does not expect to witness high art from the genre of romantic comedy. They want a beautiful actress playing the girl next door whose teeth would never be that white and whose hair would never be that straight in real life. They want easy jokes and a happy couple, which 27 Dresses promises and delivers, fulfilling the expectations of the romantic comedy drama. Romantic comedies are there to reaffirm the hope and power of love while generating billions of dollars in revenue because that's a message most of us like to hear.