Made of Honor
On its surface, Made of Honor seems like a perfect little girlie diversion. Platonic (rich handsome) guy friend realizes gal pal is the one, only on the eve of her impending nuptials. It’s ground that was tread more successfully in 1997′s My Best Friend’s Wedding (one of the two screenwriters’ work apparently only sings when she also directs it; the other, well….). What’s the difference? It sounds sexist to say it, but Made of Honor’s gender role reversal does not lend itself to comedy. A cool sexy broad like Julia Roberts being someone’s best man is more plausible and enjoyable a scenario than watching Patrick Dempsey wince his way through trousseau-talk. Both Roberts and Dempsey are totally oblivious as to the depth of their feelings about their new obsession until the engagement rings get swapped, but Roberts’ reasons for denial (straight talking career gal) compared to Dempsey’s (never get close to any woman for any reason) are more plausible. Either way, it’s hard to buy into wanting to make their quest a success. Roberts also edges out Dempsey by having a fabulous other best friend (and a sense of comedy),whereas Dempsey seems hampered by vanity, and can’t even perform the simplest routine MOH duties without a team of 5 guys helping him.
Michelle Monaghan is perfectly cast as the cool chick best friend who’s still totally romantic material. Dempsey is a super rich dude, drenched in privilege and reeling from the terrible example his father sets for him, who doesn’t appear to have to work and looks great with his shirt off. His comedy offerings are muted by his remote, Kennedyesque demeanor and utter unrelatability. It makes it hard for us gals in the audience to fall in love with this person when he purrs up in a convertible, gets a phone number from a supermodel while picking up two coffees at Starbucks, and then vrooms off to pencil her into his calendar of sex-only romps. He’s a rake and he has an appalling attitude towards women. He justifies himself by saying he’s always honest with everyone; oh the consoling salve of knowing ahead of time that he won’t sleep over, see you twice in a week, etc. Despite his McDreamy whatever, despite his adorableness in Sweet Home Alabama, despite those clavicles, it’s hard to like him.
Monaghan’s intended (revealed in the preview as Kevin McKidd) is myriad desirable things (I won’t ruin it, but the hyperbole is stunning) with only the small concern that it happened so fast. Maybe there are some things wrong with him, but if her only choices are McKidd and Dempsey (unlikely as that would be), McKidd is a safer bet. She seems otherwise to be totally sensible. Exhibit A: knowing better than to ever have slept with Dempsey through their 10 year friendship.
The comedy is present but slight. The emotional investment is trifling. Her bridesmaids improve the scenes they are in, but are then forgotten in the face of the baseless romance yearning to force itself into existence. Monaghan and Dempsey have great friend chemistry, and you can imagine them one day falling into bed, but love? My only consolation was that I saw this alone and no one else had to suffer these indignities with me. Wait until it comes on TBS or something.
MPAA Rating PG-13
Release date 5/2/08
Time in minutes 101
Director Paul Weiland
Studio Columbia Pictures
