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Patrick Dempsey makes his full transition to romantic-comedy stardom in
Made of Honor, flashing those winning dimples and twinkly baby blues to full fetching effect. The camera truly loves him, and his considerable affable charm calls to mind early Hugh Grant, winsome even in utter confusion. Dempsey plays Tom, a nice guy but a serial dater with a girlfriend in every zip code of New York; Michelle Monaghan is Hannah, Tom's BFF since college, who's decided she wants marriage and family. When she becomes unexpectedly engaged to Colin (
Journeyman's Kevin McKidd, rather McDreamy himself), Tom realizes what the viewer's known all along--that Hannah is in fact his dream woman. It's
When Harry Met Sally... meets
My Best Friend's Wedding--but thankfully, Dempsey's Tom is far more sympathetic than Julia Roberts' snide schemer. The plot isn't exactly full of surprises, but the cast--and their amazing chemistry--are so winning that the film makes for the perfect date movie. Not only are all three leads charming in their own way, but the rich cinematography manages to make both Manhattan and the Scottish countryside look like glorious edens, one urban, one windswept. Monaghan is a revelation, quietly lovely as a young Carla Bruni, but with a flinty gumption that makes her all the more appealing. The supporting cast is rich, too, especially Sydney Pollack as Tom's serially marrying dad. (At his dad's fifth--or is it sixth?--wedding, Tom's new arm-candy "stepmom" gets tipsy and overly affectionate with guests as her new husband looks on fondly: "Ah... drunk as the night I first met her.") But at the core of the film are its big heart, and the connection between Tom and Hannah, deep and wide whether they end up just best friends or more. And the delight for viewers is knowing they'll be just as glowy either way.--
A.T. Hurley Stills from Made of Honor (click for larger image)
Product Description
For Tom (Patrick Dempsey), life is good: he's sexy, successful, has great luck with the ladies, and knows he can always rely on Hannah (Michelle Monaghan), his delightful best friend and the one constant in his life. It's the perfect setup until Hannah goes overseas to Scotland on a six-week business trip... and Tom is stunned to realize how empty his life is without her. He resolves that when she gets back, he'll ask Hannah to marry him -- but is floored when he learns that she has become engaged to a handsome and wealthy Scotsman and plans to move overseas. When Hannah asks Tom to be her "maid" of honor, he reluctantly agrees to fill the role... but only so he can attempt to woo Hannah and stop the wedding before it's too late.