Made of Honour
Patrick Dempsey stars in this refreshing romantic-comedy about two best friends who realise that there’s more to life than one-night-stands, coffee and cake.
When his best friend Hannah, played by Michelle Monaghan, visits Scotland on business, Tom (Dempsey) decides that he can’t live without her. However, she has other plans, and returns to New York with Colin, who can only be described as a Scottish Daniel Craig.
Intent on marrying her new hunk, Hannah asks Tom to be her Made of Honour, giving him the job of organizing a sexy bridal shower, choosing her wedding-night lingerie, and dealing with her obsessive bridesmaids.
The fact that Tom realised his feelings for Hannah before she met Colin makes it easy for the audience to sympathise with his efforts to win her heart, as he is doing it out of genuine feelings, rather than through jealousy.
But this isn’t just a slushy rom-com, and Tom’s efforts are not without their consequences.
Filled with slap-stick elements and comical male-banter (as they arrange potpourri), this film offers new twists to an over-used concept. But this doesn’t make it any less predictable.
The fun really starts when everyone ventures over to Scotland for the wedding, and poor Tom is subjected to typical Scottish traditions such as kilts, haggis and caber tossing.
The chemistry between Monaghan and Dempsey is believable, although their kissing scenes are uncomfortable and dry. (Sorry if that spoils the plot, but really, it is very predictable).
It’s an easy-watcher with numerous laughs and relatable characters, but isn’t original.
The DVD extras are worth a watch though, and include a ‘Making Of’ featurette and deleted scenes.
Dempsey’s behind-the-scenes attempts to juggle china plates are a particular highlight, and audiences are let into industry secrets involving how the caber-tossing and basketball scenes were shot.
Monaghan makes a clever remark about Dempsey’s mini-kilt, saying: “I almost saw his caberâ€, which is more amusing than anything she says throughout the film.
Good for a night in with the girls, Made of Honour is an enjoyable experience, but is nothing to shout about.
By Kay Taylor