Katherine Heigl in "27 Dresses"
courtesy of Fox Home Entertainment
“An Old Fashioned Love Story”

Just when you think all movies about love and romance have to have a multitude of profane phrases, graphic nudity, and sexual situations that embarrass rather than entertain; along comes a film like “27 Dresses.” This is a new romantic comedy starring Katherine Heigl that is funny, romantic and for the most part clean! Plus it made some money at the box office and should do even better on DVD.

Katherine Heigl plays Jane, a young woman who loves weddings. She is forever making all the arrangements for the weddings of her fiends and then serves as a bridesmaid. She has twenty-seven bridesmaid dresses in her closet. Okay, maybe she is a little obsessive about weddings.

Jane is also obsessive about her boss, George (Edward Burns). She worships him from afar but when she finally gets up the nerve to tell him her feelings, he meets Jane's sister Tess (Malin Akerman). They fall in love immediately and Jane is on the outside looking in.

There is a man in Jane's life and his name is Kevin (James Marsden). He is a writer and someone who for no good reason annoys the heck out of Jane. Of course the audience knows form the start he is a perfect match for her but she can't seem to see anyone but George.

The film is fairly predictable but who cares. Heigl and Marsden are such talented and charismatic actors that they could make any story good and a rather good one like this one even better. They are two actors you just enjoy watching on screen.

Heigl of course is a fixture on "Grey's Anatomy." She also was the star of the major comedy hit "Knocked Up." Marsden scored points for his performances in "Hairspray" and "Enchanted." Together these are two of the hottest actors on the scene today and the combination of their talents produces a winner of a movie.

Akerman and Burns give solid support to the goings on while Judy Greer has funny moment after funny moment as Jane's acerbic best friend. Brian Kerwin is paternal as Jane and Tess' widowed father.

If you have been hoping for a movie you could watch without being embarrassed, this is the one. It has some dirty words but they are few and far between. Plus the story and the stars are so likable you have to forgive any and all transgressions.

If you have been hungering for a good romantic comedy, well this is it. It will leave you with a smile on your face.

Dolph Lundgren is always enjoyable in his action films and “Diamond Dogs” is one of his most exciting. This DVD movie is pure escapist entertainment with Lundgren leading a group on a search for a Buddhist artifact. The search, the people out to stop them, and the curse the artifact is supposed to carry all add up to one exciting movie.

Lundgren knows what his fans want and he delivers. They have been faithful to him because he has been faithful to them. It is a wise man who knows his audience and Lundgren knows who his is.

“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” is a magnificent movie, but it is also a difficult one to watch. At least it was for me. It is the true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, played by Matthew Amairic, who was paralyzed by a stroke when he was only forty-three. He was left with only the ability to blink one of his eyes but he used that ability to communicate with the world.

The acting, the music and especially the photography are top rate in this film. Still it is difficult to watch even if it is inspiring. But on DVD you can watch it in segments if you need to do that.

Walt Disney himself made an appearance in the “Saludos Amigos,” an animated film that featured a tour of the land south of the border. Goofy and Donald Duck are also along for the fun in this true Disney classic.

Another animated feature with a south of the border flavor is “The Three Caballeros.” Donald takes center stage in this film that features lively music and songs. To help celebrate Cinco de Mayo there is a DVD out with both films contained therein. It is titled “The Classic Cabelleros Collection: Saludos Amigos and Three Caballeros.” Ole!

Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Ray Liotta co-star in the DVD release “Hero Wanted.” This is a film about a man who has been a hero and wants to feel the power and the glory again. He gets a second chance but things don’t work out the way he envisions them.

This is a good shot at an action movie but somehow it doesn’t hold up. Gooding has it in him to make another great movie but this one just isn’t it. He seems to be bogged down in B-rated flicks. We need to see his A game again.

Finally there is “Starting Out In the Evening,” a surprisingly good movie starring Frank Langella, Lauren Ambrose and Lili Taylor. It tells the story of a writer (Langella) who has not met with the success he deserves. In his later years he finds opportunity knocking in the form of a graduate student who wants to re-introduce him to the world through her thesis.

Langella gives an outstanding performance in this film as the burned out writer and you will be totally drawn into his world. This movie is all about the characters and you feel you get to know them and identify with them. It is a DVD to watch and savor.
 

 

 

 

 

©2008 Jackie K. Cooper

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