27 Dresses Review

27 Dresses
**---

The film 27 Dresses, supposedly once codenamed "cheeze" and "slusho" while in development, sparked interest ever since it's original teaser trailer (which strangely premiered alongside Transformers) found it's way onto the internet. Since then, this pseudo romantic comedy has been subject to a maelstrom of internet hype, and I was more than eager to see if it was going to live up to it's name.
Taking place in New York City, the film takes no time to set the scene in Central Park, where, from the get go, the viewer is aware that the main protagonists are doomed. This however is only hinted at as the film begins with a celebratory party for a bride and groom. It's fun, entertaining, and we the viewer are right along with them. Yes, the film manages to gain a couple authentic laughs, however this only makes the film so much more disturbing considering how the characters appear to be completely unaware that New York is about to be destroyed by a giant monster, a terror of which the world has never seen.
I must say, I was a tad confused as to why J.J. Abrams kept the monster concealed throughout the majority of the film. In retrospect though, it makes complete logical sense when taken into account the big reveal, in which the monster turns out to be Malin Akerman in a wedding gown. Brilliant.
It is also important to note how the cast has been predominantly kept under wraps. There are some very good performances here, especially from Anne Hathaway, who, for reasons beyond me, appears in this film with blond hair and is inexplicably credited as Katherine Heigl. Judy Greer also wanders in from the set of the Wedding Planner and, as always, essentially steals the show.
However, what makes this film work are the little touches that play with the film's format. Supposedly filmed on digital, the film hints that it is entirely recorded over another, slightly better, film underneath. This creates dissonance, as the funny segments that have been recorded over are occasionally separated by long spans of time where the central characters fight for survival in a world gone terribly wrong.
The film, simply said, is a terror of which man has never dreamed. Never before have I felt so isolated in a crowd (surprisingly made up of women). While watching I could only imagine the carnage happening off screen, in the distance. At one point, as the main protagonist had to cross midtown to attend two weddings at once, I had to close my eyes in horror. When I heard the terrifyingly high pitch squeals and the gasping audiences response to the destruction of a wedding gown, I knew this film hit it's mark.