Review of Made of Honor (2008) by Christopher S — 03 Jul 2011

Watched on 7/1/11:

Made of Honor spells chick flick all over it, the perennial formulaic romantic comedy that tells its entire story in the trailer, but that's not going to stop me from watching it, right! Right!

Patrick Dempsey coming off a bit of a career resurgence with Grey's Anatomy is back doing what he use to do best. Romantic comedies. Some may forgotten this but Mr. Dempsey was once quite the big 80's heartthrob starring in flicks such as Can't Buy Me Love(1987), Some Girls (1988) with Jennifer Connelly, Loverboy (1989), and Happy Together. In Made of Honor, He plays a playboy called Tom who lives by certain rules in his dating game, and amongst them, no back to back sex with the same girl, no dates with the same girl unless it's a week apart, and never to call someone new in the next 24 hours, never bring them to weddings and family events, and the likes. Women find him irresistible (either for his looks or for that bank account, oh btw he created the "coffee collar"), and he wastes no time in getting to know them inside out. The ideal bachelor lifestyle I'd bet, with a constant flow of money, women, and good pals to shoot hoops with, none of them seemingly poor enough to hold down regular jobs.

However, he has his best friend and confidante in Hannah (Michelle Monaghan) with whom he spends his weekends with, and just when he discovers that he truly loves the girl, she drops the bombshell that she's going to marry a Scot whom she met during her business trip, and talking about whirlwind romances, will be getting married in 14 days. So the clock starts to tick in order for Tom to prove himself to be better than the groom-to-be Colin McMurray (Kevin McKidd), which is an uphill task as riches-for-riches they could be on par, but Colin is some kind of Duke in Scotland...so...While at the same time juggle his role as the maid of honor and going through the many girlie things that they're supposed to do for the bride. Oh did I fail to mention he was asked to be her "Maid of Honor", Hence the title of the film.

While it is a formulaic story, what works, and so long as it does, this type of movies will forever be made, is the chemistry between the leads. You just can't deny that both Dempsey and Monaghan look good together on screen as a couple, and you can't help but find yourself rooting for them past their characters' stupidity to realize that they're made for each other, after 10 years of being together, with little clues left unanswered with questions such as "why do you like him" going unanswered. If only of course it were that easy in real life, that a romance can be wrapped up with Eureka-like moments of enlightenment within two hours.

Of course I must admit though that the formula doesn't require anything cerebral from you as you sit through and (try to) enjoy the story in fantasy land. The eclectic soundtrack helped as well, with contemporary tunes taking centerstage and played at the right moments, from Smash Mouth's opening, to Oasis' Stop Crying Your Heart Out. Supporting characters like Kathleen Quinlan and Sydney Pollack go wasted of course.

So basically know this. Made of Honor's plot is nothing new. Movies like My Best Friend's Wedding, and even from as far back as Three Men and a Little Lady where the best friend tries his/her very best to convince the bride/groom otherwise have been made over and over again. Yet we continue to support them...why? because..that's why! And if you think the premise is a ludicrous one, where a man will take up the duties of a maid of honor, it has happened before...I believe somewhere in Singapore. Bottom line...."Made of Honor" swings and misses. After watching "MOH" your gonna swear to have seen some that not only worked better, but were actually very entertaining. This one tried, and wasn't awful; but again has been done before and done better.