B.W. At The Movies: 27 Dresses

We had our pick of serious Oscar contenders, full of angst and blood and guts, but in the dead of winter who needs angst? So 27 Dresses was the film we picked for our Saturday night date, prompted by a USA Today article that talks about James Marsden and Patrick Dempsey, who have recently become the male leads in "one of Hollywood's most formulaic genres: the wedding farce."

The fun thing about formulas is their familiarity: You know where it's going, but if the characters are likeable enough, you just go along for the ride and watch for the twists and turns unique to this particular adventure. We've all seen 27 Dresses before, and yet we haven't. I have never, for example, been enamored of the song "Bennie and the Jets" before, and yet now I will always think of it with a smile. Nice trick.

Katherine Heigl plays Jane, always a bridesmaid but never a bride, and in love with her boss, George (Edwards Burns). Just as she works up the courage to proclaim her undying affection, she witnesses George falling head over heels in love at first sight with her sister, Tess (Malin Ackerman), who will ask Jane to help plan her wedding to George - Jane being a terrific planner who loves weddings, don't you know. Into this mix we introduce Kevin (James Marsden), who falls head over heels in love at first sight with Jane, and we have all the makings of a lovely wedding farce cake.

Boys meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl. When the formula works, it's a wonderful diversion. 27 Dresses works.