You can't escape the chick flicks

posted 08:50 AM 05/15
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Recently, The Video Gal asked me whether I was going to take her to see "Sex and the City."

Of course, the answer was "no." What if someone I knew saw me voluntarily taking in a chick flick?

However, in my professional duties, I can't escape the fact that sometimes I have to watch movies I have no interest in. This is my sacrifice to you, dear reader.

It also is a great way to make up for the fact that the exploits of Carrie and Mr. Big will have to be discovered by my wife on her own.

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One of the biggest hits of last year came out of nowhere, but then again, chick flicks generally are overlooked by box-office pundits.

Katherine Heigl parlayed her strong work in "Knocked Up" into 27 DRESSES (PG-13, **1/2 ), a lightweight romantic comedy that could have been much better if it wasn't so darned formulaic.

It followed the standard arc so well that anyone who's seen more than seven chick flicks can predict what happens next. Just once I'd like for someone to write an off-the-wall chick flick, although some might say films such as "Knocked Up" and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" are the new chick flicks.

Anyway, Heigl stars as Jane, a beautiful woman who, for some reason, has been a bridesmaid 27 times and enjoys spending her time reading wedding articles in the newspaper.

Jane has been pining for her boss (Edward Burns), but when her younger, flashy sister (Malin Akerman) moves back to town, Jane is horrified to find out that the man of her dreams has taken a serious liking to her sibling.

While Jane labors over becoming a bridesmaid yet again, she begins to form a relationship with - surprise! - the wedding writer (James Marsden) assigned to write a story about her sister.

Do you think these opposites will attract? Will they share a bond while doing some bad singing?

I can see why this movie would resonate with some women, especially those who might feel disgruntled about being a bridesmaid. But it's rather unrealistic considering that the buxom, cheerful Heigl is far too pretty to be a single gal in New York.

It would have been a much more interesting - but far less profitable movie - if Judy Greer, who plays Jane's best friend, was t he star. Greer is a gifted comic actress. Her acerbic wit and feisty personality are just screaming for a starring role.

She's the best thing about the movie, but sadly, she disappears about halfway through.

If I ever write a chick flick, she's going to be my star.

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Hilary Swank is a lot of things - a Northwest native, a "Karate Kid" star, a veteran of "Beverly Hills 90210," a two-time Oscar winner - but what P.S. I LOVE YOU (PG-13, *1/2 ) proves is that she's not very funny.

It's not really her fault. The role of a widow rebuilding her life with the help of her "wacky" friends and her dead husband's letters isn't a good fit for Swank, an actress who seems lost doing pratfalls on karaoke night.

The movie opens with Holly (Swank) and Gerry (Gerard Butler) in the middle of a big fight. It abruptly switches gears to Holly at her husband's wake. That choppiness will be a problem throughout the film.

Before Gerry died, he arranged for a series of 10 letters to be delivered throughout the year to help Holly get adjusted to life without him. It sounds kind of weird, and it is. It would seem hard enough to get over the death of a spouse without the unexpected reminder of his or her presence.

There seems to be a disconnect with how someone might act in this situation and the de sire to create a cliche chick flick. Why, for instance, would Holly's friends (Lisa Kudrow and Gina Gershon) be so aggressive in getting Holly back on the dating scene so soon?

Apparently, this is based on a successful book that was set in Ireland, which explains why the film feels it's necessary to shoehorn a trip to Ireland into the mix. I'm assuming the book delves a little deeper into the subject matter, but I won't find that out anytime soon.

Swank has had an interesting career, and I could see where she might have thought this would be a nice departure for her. But maybe she should wait for Clint Eastwood to call her back.

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For some reason, there's a creepy subgenre in the romantic comedy oeuvre that involves ghosts - think "Just Like Heaven" among others. The latest addition to this strange club is OVER HER DEAD BODY (PG-13, ** ), which somehow managed to exceed my expectations by not being absolutely terrible.

It seems I am distinctly in the minority, however. The film pulled in a meager $7.5 million at the box office and scored an insanely low 13 percent freshness on www.rottentomatoes.com. But meager expectations can go a long way. Therefore, I was entertained.

Eva Longoria stars as a controlling bride-to-be who meets her unfortunate end when she is crushed by an ice sculpture on her wedding day. One year later, her depressed fiance (Paul Rudd) is convinced by his sister to see a psychic/caterer (Lake Bell) in the hopes she can help him get out of his funk.

Of course, the ghost of Longoria is none too pleased with the budding relationship between the two and goes out of her way to make the psychic's life miserable, believing that's the unfinished business keeping her out of heaven.

Yes, it is a ridiculous plot, and any scenes that involve Longoria bring the film to a screeching halt. However, Rudd is a consummate pro and fires off some good one-liners while maintaining a general bemusement about appearing in a ghost film.

For her part, Bell shows some natural comedic ability, making her neurotic character seem believable, even if her luxurious apartment was not.

And what can we say about poor Jason Biggs, cast here in a throwaway role as the gay friend. It wasn't that long ago he was a star, but now he's the fourth banana in a chick flick no one wanted to see.

Fun fact: The original title of this movie was "Ghost Bitch." How awesome would that have been?

Elliott Smith is a former Olympian reporter who lives in Seattle. He can be reached at ejsteeler@hotmail.com.

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