Made of Honor (2008)

O Masterpiece
O Excellent
X Good
O OK
O Mediocrity
O Avoid

Review by Jason Pyles / June 17, 2008

You know, people chuckle at this movie’s title, but it happens. In fact, I have a good pal named Rich whose female best friend asked him to be her “dude of honor” when she got married. And he dutifully did. So yeah, it happens.

“Made of Honor” is a successful romantic comedy, which means it’s a perfectly good rental for date night. It follows that familiar formula that we all love, and hate.

Tom (Patrick Dempsey) and Hannah (Michelle Monaghan) have grown to be more or less inseparable best friends during the past 10 years. But their relationship has been strictly platonic. Tom has complicated, self-imposed rules that enable him to enjoy meaningless sex with numberless women, without settling down with any of them. But when Hannah goes to Scotland for six weeks on a business trip, Tom realizes what an important, happy role she plays in his life. He decides, as the previews have revealed, that Hannah is a keeper, and the woman he should marry.

But Hannah returns from Scotland with big news for Tom: She’s engaged to Colin (Kevin McKidd), a seemingly perfect man’s man. Hannah asks Tom to be her maid of honor, and he agrees. But Tom has a scheme to try to break up Colin and Hannah’s engagement and prevent their wedding. And in the process of his nefarious plotting, Tom has to convince Hannah that he’s a keeper, too.

“Made of Honor” is predictable but funny. Patrick Dempsey plays these kinds of characters perfectly. The movie also has some nice, little touches. For instance, when Hannah breaks the news of her engagement to Tom, he is dazed and his head is figuratively spinning. Director of photography Tony Pierce-Roberts enhances this moment visually with a swirling camera that encircles Tom, Hannah and Colin. This classic cinematographer’s trick enables us to experience what Tom is experiencing.

I’ve seen Michelle Monaghan in several movies now, and I have to say, she’s quite likable. In fact, I predict that she’ll be the next Meg Ryan, with her girl-next-door amiability.

Speaking of likability, sometimes the enjoyment of a movie comes from the person you’re watching it with. I saw “Made of Honor” with my mom when she was visiting me in Utah from West Virginia. And I like my mom lots, naturally, so the movie was even more fun because she enjoyed it, too. Indeed, had I not chosen Dave Eaton to be the best man at my wedding, I might have just as easily chosen her: She could have been my “best dudette,” or something like that.

Directed by Paul Weiland
Patrick Dempsey / Michelle Monaghan / Kevin McKidd
Comedy / Romance 101 min.
MPAA: PG-13 (for sexual content and language)

U.S. Release Date: May 2, 2008
Copyright 2008: 289