The Genius Of 27 Dresses

[@Cole_E]

One of the scenes that always stuck with me was the one where Tess reads Kevin's article. She's raging but it's not because her big sister's been publicly humiliated, it's because he called her 'Bridezilla.' As insulting as that is, Tess' reaction always makes my blood boil. She takes Jane for granted like most younger siblings do but there's a particular kind of selfishness - borderline maliciousness - in the way she treats Jane which I think stems from her inferiority complex.

[@SerenaSkybourne]

I would say for sure it was outright malicious and also very lacking in empathy for Jane

[@ceciliahorner2664]

Yes and the fact that she’s scolding her like it’s her fault somehow?? And then later says “I’ve decided to forgive you” 🫣🤦‍♀️

[@lavenderfoxx900]

Theres an elder sister syndrome going on here. Jane steps into the role of a second mum and is parentified. Its her role to make sure everyone else is okay. Her carer choice mirrors this. She is good at taken care of everyone else is her identifier and watching her fall and learn that she need to be lover for herself not what she can do for others is a big deal.

[@gurengamer9053]

And how to start make boundaries, when first reaction of parents is "But... Is Younger one, you shall as Older... "?! 😂 It's hard work to ever start. Dear parents maybe more spanks/stricness, than spoiling Younger? For Family and Eldest good

[@ashleymueller8844]

I remember rewatching the movie and realizing that NOT ONCE in the entire film does Tess apologize!!! She never says sorry to Jane OR to the boss for lying about everything! Even during her and Jane's heart-to-heart moment she never says "Sorry for taking advantage of your kindness" she only says "you don't need to take care of me all the time" making it Jane's fault once again! There's never accountability. She is one of the most selfish people in all cinema. All her actions in the movie benefit herself in some way. Rewatch it, find ONE thing Tess does that is not beneficial to her! I don't think it exists (on screen anyways). Great actress though for making us all hate her so much 😂

[@trinaq]

I always related to Jane, and her incessant need to please everyone around her. I love her character development, and learning to set boundaries, and the "Benny and the Jets" scene is so iconic.

[@SerenaSkybourne]

SO iconic!! Im obsessed

[@hookedonlove5821]

Same with me. I always say everything is fine and put others needs before mine

[@Pinkladyisv]

I relate to Jane a lot too. She often forgets to do things for herself. I love that she learns she can still be a good employee, sister and friend without having to always put others before herself.

[@firstname1074]

@trinaq I’m dying to know who you are? ? For years every video I get recommended on youtube you seem to have a first comment. The algorithm has been syncing us for years and it’s fascinating

[@RytheRatMwah]

⁠@@firstname1074I was about to say the same thing!! I feel like I see these comments everywhere!! 🤞

[@natyc19]

See the engagement party is right after the wedding dress scene. Honestly, it may be wrong. But Tess tearing up the dress even after knowing Jane wanted to wear it boils my blood and makes me wanna justify the engagement party scene.

[@juliawidmaier5334]

Gosh it was so heartbreaking for her to see her mother's dress be destroyed like that. 😞 And that fact her sister acted like it was nothing and her anger isn't justified pissed me off.

[@jaimicottrill2831]

@@juliawidmaier5334 Jane did everything for her sister, so Tess never learnt to care about others. She honestly thought that because she thought the dress was old fashioned that Jane would feel the same as her about it. Tess is selfish and used to being the golden child, but I honestly don't think she is malicious.

[@lavenderfoxx900]

​@@jaimicottrill2831i agree although when i watched this the first time I hated Tess for it. Well spoken

[@phatpharm06]

I was so upset that Tess destroyed the dress and no one seemed to be on Jane’s side.

[@kahkah1986]

I think she's trying to have Jane's wedding tbh, she describes it as wanting to become Jane, the sensible, caring one, who cares for old stuff and treasures everything. She's also weirdly angry with Jane as well I think though, that Jane has a sensible, successful life in her eyes, that she had a mother for longer etc. and she got a role of power over her, so it is envy and shame, not straightforward admiration, and the dress gets it. I think the whole thing, dress to engagement dinner, is a huge learning curve for everyone ;))

[@JacquelineViana]

I’ve read once an interview in which Aline Brosh-McKenna said that the original script had Jane endind alone and creating her planning company, thus fullfilling her love for weddings and realizing that she needed to do something for herself. However, the studio asked her to create the love plot so she’d have her own wedding. This change is what ultimately led her to approach Rachel Bloom and develop Crazy Ex-Girlfriend as the romcom show that would be the opposite of romcoms.

[@chriswildfire]

@@JacquelineViana crazy ex girlfriend is great but I don’t like the idea of beening alone for some reason

[@MADEbySOUL]

@@chriswildfireor is it the need to be married at the end?

[@Pinkladyisv]

I think I would have liked to see her owing her own company too but also maybe with her getting engaged at the end too.

[@mae7532]

CXG is criminally underrated ❤

[@kahkah1986]

tbf, I wish they had gone with both, she so obviously wants her own wedding and her own space, but it would have been cool if she also recognised her organisational talents as important and special as well, like she gets to be the boss in the ideal scenario the way the boss had made a business out of his own passions for hiking etc. in the film. (Like, not even going to pretend I haven't watched it 100 times!!! I know all this stuff!!!)

[@evelinarichter2710]

I don’t remember much of the movie but I will NEVER forget the wedding dress scene. I rarely feel murderous but tess cutting up their mother’s wedding dress into the most basic shit pisses me off to this day

[@celly589]

Loved this movie growing up and even now! But, wasn’t it explained that the mom died when they were young so that’s why Jane felt like she had to raise her sister because she knew the dad wouldn’t hence how their relationship turned out as adults. Tess even says something like “Jane you didn’t have to raise me.” And Jane immediately says yes she did because who else would.

[@kahkah1986]

exactly, it stands up so well because everything feels reasonable rather than forced; of course the dad loved them, he was just grieving terribly, of course the mother loved them, she just couldn't be there for them.

[@andihunter7104]

Yes- it definitely says at the beginning of the movie that Jane felt she needed to step up after their mother died because her dad was so lost in his grief. She was parentified because her dad never recovered and stepped in to claim all of the responsibilities that his late wife did- he just let Jane do it. He ended up taking her for granted and letting her do everything for him like a partner vs his eldest daughter who also really needed her dad.

[@LouisaWatt]

She HAS to be ultra organised, otherwise all the things she said “yes” to would collapse in a heap.

[@constancapages]

I'm glad that you mentioned Katherine Heigl at the end and the accusations saying she was "difficult to work with". Of course I have never interacted with her in person, but I can't help but feeling this was just another example of the patriarchy wanting to silence a woman who spoke up and called out their bs. It's a pity because I like her as an actress, I would've loved to see many more romcoms starring her.

[@SerenaSkybourne]

Whenever there’s a social media wave all ganging up against a woman I always wonder if there’s more to the story

[@meghansullivan6812]

Yessss I heard that she got kicked off greys anatomy bc she started to complain about shit that could be improved !!!

[@renaerolley5670]

​@@meghansullivan6812 I found out Grey's Anatomy is a Shondaland production . 'NUFF SAID.

[@FishareFriendsNotFood972]

So many deep complex movies of the early aughts were dismissed as frilly nothings just because they were marketed towards women.....glad so many are being given their redemption arcs these days!

[@SerenaSkybourne]

They deserve their flowers! 🌸

[@cobrakaier238]

True but some of them were garbage that nowadays is hard to watch. I tried rewatching 'The Ugly Truth's another Heigl Rom Com and it's unbearable. Some of them had the wrong message for women.

[@AmandaVieiraMamaesouCult]

Tbf Ugly Truth was wrong from the start, it was literally inspired by a red pill guy​@@cobrakaier238

[@explodingbear]

Uptown Girls 1000%

[@angelicasmodel]

Some of those films had very overt feminist messages, but they were marketed not just as being towards women, but as being shallow. Legally Blonde was a big example of this. You have an entire montage of Elle working her butt of to get into Harvard, with the payoff line being 'what, like it's hard?' The trailer gave that line, with none of the context. So I thought the film was going to be about a bimbo joking her way to success, and didn't see the film when it was released.

[@CleverlyCoCo]

I love the scene with Kevin and Jane after the engagement dinner. I think it's very romantic that Kevin basically says that it's okay to not be perfect all the time and that he doesn't think any less of her. I think Jane needed that; to be seen as human. I am also very forgiving of Kevin's character in this movie. I always saw it as him starting out as a self-centered, self-motivated person (which is why he's confused by Jane) but then it slowly changes. Where as Jane needed to learn to put herself first, Kevin needed to learn that just focusing on yourself can hurt others. By the end, he wants to take care of Jane and love her and Jane is at a point where she is letting him do it. However, I do agree that this aspect could've been more fleshed out. It kind of reminds me of "The Philadelphia Story" with Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn. Where everyone sees Hepburn as a "goddess" and she tries to live up to that----to the detriment of her love life.

[@yundorphin]

Agreed! I think they worked relatively well together as foils who stood to learn a lot from each other. Conceptually, he was a great match for her. But he could have been fleshed out a bit more.

[@kahkah1986]

@@yundorphin Yes, like the whole concept of him being the victim of a horrible divorce when his wife left with his best friend, but still having to write all these columns about people getting happily married had obviously warped him, but at the same time he was still the person who had written so positively about others, he was also pleasing his editor and his audience, so he understood Jane very quickly.

[@jaimicottrill2831]

I think Kevin's backstory (the little we learn of it) helps explain that a little. His wife ran off with his best friend after their big fancy wedding which has understandably made him cynical and try to protect himself afterwards. Meeting Jane has allowed him to see that their can be a middle ground between opening yourself like Jane does too much and closing yourself off too much as he does.

[@moonymoonlight]

honestly tho. am i biased?? maybe so. but i'm willing to forgive their flaws as a couple 🥺 they're a big guilty pleasure of mine

[@aromaladyellie]

Yeah wasn't the article published without his consent or something? Like it was written back when he did see her as just a bridesmaid with a monster of a sister and he was blindsided by it being published? It's been a while since I saw it.

[@lytaquiroz1524]

Jane is such a great character because she is a great person, that cares about people and her fault has been that she cares too much of other, she forgot about herself What i love about this movie is how Kevin, instead of taking advantage of her way of being like everyone had always done, he actually push her to stand up for herself The thing i also love that at the end, when all the brides that Jane had been bridesmaids were actually there, showing they did apreciatted Jane

[@radhiadeedou8286]

No she's not a great person, she's just weak

[@BeStillandKnow0000]

the father is still neglectful when they met him in his store 😂

[@BeStillandKnow0000]

i really dont like the ending thooo 😢 it closes the chapter of her always being the bridesmaid, but why would she marry him? he didn’t grow. he exploited her.

[@olavihekandjo2928]

​@BeStillandKnow0000 he didn't though. He was going to but then changed his mind. Also his arch was that he went from someone who didn't believe in real love to someone who did.

[@kahkah1986]

@BeStillandKnow0000 I think he did grow though, he realised she had grown and commended her for it, whereas before he would have belittled her. Plus, the organiser he gives her was valuable, this gets lost in time, it will have cost what he got for the article, he's trying not to gain from it.

[@fabulousfamily564]

Bro is the Grinch. I dislike their "character growth" for the same reason. It's just bare minimum. You don't have to like Christmas in order to avoid stealing from people. Not using someone is bare minimum. You don't have to believe love is real to not take advantage of people and write sneaky articles and violate their privacy. The Grinch brought the stuff back. The stuff that was already theirs. They are forgiving, and invite him to dinner. Okay. Kevin buys Jane a thing she didn't ask for and didn't need or want, but it cost money, and was slightly thoughtful, so she starts dating him. Not okay. He should have done more. I want to see him print an apology. I want her to get her privacy and reputation back.

[@kahkah1986]

@@fabulousfamily564 Honestly, I hadn't thought about this aspect in this way, but it makes sense. I agree, the pager present would have been better as a printed apology/ personal piece before he quit explaining his mistake and his personal problems, but this was set in a more rigid publishing world pre-internet explosion, the editor is shown as very clearly not on board with his ideas (so they can print the original article when he tries to retract it). I also think both Kevin and Jane make big mistakes under emotional pressure as their arc, Jane trashes her sister in public and trashes her image as the perfect bridesmaid, Kevin trashes his image as the perfect 'safe' journalist who will always write lovely copy, that is the significance of the pager scene imo, that he's saying it is better to be honest, he is more of a jerk than he was allowing himself to be, she was bitchier than she allowed herself to be, but actual happiness would be being open but more loving all the time rather than holding themselves to a crazy high standard when they didn't acknowledge their feelings.

[@natyc19]

Also, as someone who studied journalism last semester in college, a couple of things. An editor can sway the voice of an article. Ive been pressured into doing that too. Second, journalists are taught to invade people's privacy, which is why i left. Because it wasnt what i wanted so i changed majors. So I absolutely agree. It was kevin's decision to do that. He could have said no i want to maintain her privacy, but he only saw her a career opportunity until he saw the real person behind the article.

[@Aquamarine333]

She felt maternal not only to her sister but to other women getting married bc she saw how they needed her also. So she feels valuable and loved bc she is fulfilling this other women’s needs. She acts like a mother to everyone bc she doesnt know how to be something else. She had to act like a mother from such a young age. Thats all she knows. Also this thing with the mom dress and venue seems like a very obvious way to say how she is becoming the mother figure. She is taking the identity of someone else. She is still living in the shadow of what she thinks she is supposed to be. I love this movie!

[@xragdoll5662]

When Tess and Jane are looking back at an article of their parents wedding and Jane says it’s perfect, Tess just says eh the location is perfect. And when Tess herself gets engaged, she recreates their parents wedding to a tee, almost as if she’s emulating Jane. Very nice video! Hope cinema therapy cover it in the future, it would be very interesting. Ngl, my partner and I always sing to Bennie and the Jets when it’s on the radio in a bar 😂

[@natyc19]

Finally someone looking at the genius that is 27 dresses. I love to watch people see this movie for the first time.

[@trinaq]

I always construed Tess and George's final scene over them possibly rekindling their relationship one day, once they'd properly gotten to know each other. There seems to be a mutual spark there, and the romantic in me likes to think that they gradually started dating again, after Jane and Kevin's wedding.

[@allydef]

That’s what I thought too. Even though Tess lied, she did actually love George and he really loved her too. They just weren’t a good fit for each other at the time because she needed to grow up and start being honest with him.

[@bigvictory143]

I'd love a movie about Tess and George.

[@paulaayres966]

It astonishes me that she does all that for the brides. Here in my country, Brasil, we don’t do that. We hire someone to organize our weddings and big parties. She should have created her own business of party planning and become her own boss.

[@RayF6126]

That was the original story line instead of the rom-com.

[@MadiStarlight]

In America wedding planners are a big thing! Many people hire a wedding coordinator to do all those things. That's what made the story even better, that Jane was doing all the work of an entire wedding coordinator company by herself for NO reason because she took it upon herself. Crazy!

[@emilove7943]

We have planners here in America as well. It’s such a big thing there’s actually a movie starring Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey called The Wedding Planner.

[@Aerie925]

Many people hire wedding planners here in the States, but having a family member is also a thing. my sister is great at planning events so I would probably ask my sister to be the planner should I get married.

[@Beanz-on-Toast]

I truly cannot feel sorry for Tess in any capacity, she's always been the priority. She always gets what she wants. She's always been catered to. She even manipulates the man she's dating to ensure she gets him. Starting a relationship off on lies. And destroying mums dress? KNOWING that Jane wanted to wear it? Inexcusable, disgusting behaviour. Giving Jane the scraps? Oh absolutely not. There would be no fixing that for me.

[@allisonnorfolk5188]

I liked most of the points you made and I definitely think people don't appreciate this movie enough. It's one of my favorite rom coms. You made some comments about Jane's parents being neglectful, but it's a bit more nuanced than that. Her mom died when she and her sister were kids, and her dad wasn't purposely neglectful, he just took his wife's death really hard and felt kind of at a loss on how to raise two daughters on his own. We see this in the very first scene, where her dad gets paralyzed at having to take Tess to the bathroom and looks to Jane in panic. Jane was at an impressionable age, and as you pointed out had to grow up too fast and at least for a time take on responsibility for herself and Tess because her dad just couldn't handle it. But once he did start to heal, the status quo had already been set and Jane felt she "had" to take care of Tess indefinitely because the whole family had just settled into that routine. Plus it made her feel validated and loved when she got praise for helping. Tess herself points out that once she grew up and could do things on her own, Jane still felt like she had to be a mother and a caretaker and wouldn't let herself settle back into being a sister, so the relationship morphed into something unhealthy where Tess was unthinkingly taking advantage of Jane always putting her needs last. I also disagree with you about Kevin being underdeveloped. He does have an arc--as he gets to know Jane as a person, he starts to see her as more than a meal ticket. He starts to grapple with how selfish he's been worming his way into her life to write an article about her for his own career advancement under false pretenses, and as he tries to figure out what the right thing to do is now that he's already in the middle of his big mistake, he keeps asking his boss for more time and to not run the article until he can figure it out. He is a bad person at the beginning of the movie, and his arc is about him growing a conscience and realizing in his desperation to be a "real" journalist he's done some awful, unethical things to Jane, who did not deserve to be abused. Once the article comes out and the fallout happens, he outright says once he's gotten out his apology he's willing to walk away and Jane will never hear from him again if that's what she wants. He doesn't expect her to forgive him. He's the one that gets to voice the whole point of the movie,--that Jane deserves to have her needs met and not just pour out her lifeblood meeting other peoples' needs.

[@joygilman1110]

Well, I guess I don't need to post after all. You said it perfectly!

[@dancedancelauren]

Perfectly on point!

[@k.h.6991]

A lot of parents who neglect their children, don't do this on purpose. That's better than purposely neglecting kids, but the kids are still not getting their needs met.

[@angelaholmes8888]

27 dresses is a good film definitely has aged well since it came out 👗😊

[@annejohnson5875]

In Tess' defense, Jane has taken care of her probably for as long as she could remember. Their mother died when they were both little and Jane is probably the only mother figure Tess can really recognize.

[@kahkah1986]

yes, like it is natural for emotionally developing Tess to try and act out against Jane as a mother figure, but as she isn't her mother it gets weird

[@AHufflepuffAndASwiftie]

I LOVE CinemaTherapy; I watched them ALL THE TIME!! ❤😊

[@caroliinec]

Have you seen the video Playful Lines did about 27 dresses? It's called "27 dresses: matyr syndrome 101" highly recommend it! She went in depth about how each character is problematic, except for Pedro lol! As well as their dynamics. Love the James Marsden shout out btw! It's hard for me to hate his character because he's so gorgeous 😭 I also give him credit because he's the only one, besides her friend, who pointed out she needed to start doing things for herself👏 love the scene of the two after the engagement party.

[@RM-qq5rj]

I don't like romcoms/chick flicks, but when I saw this movie I could really relate because I was like Jane since childhood and I watched everyone else around me get the things I always wanted, often by cheating, lying and stealing often directly from me and me having to "suck it up" and be the "nice" one. I've grown a lot and become conscious of a lot of my unhealthy boundaries, standing up for myself, being able to say no, not being a people pleaser, not being perfectionistic, giving without receiving and probably codependency. It's been a long road and hard process but I'm improving! Becoming aware of it was the biggest first step!

[@malloryweeks3306]

I actually liked Jane’s boss. He seemed to be a genuinely nice guy and treated her well

[@chriswildfire]

Jane's issues are so similar to what i was going through with my cousins I would do so much for them but would never get the same in return. They were the same with my daughters too. And when I stated to lay down boundaries one of my cousins just couldn't handle it. This was during COVID when you had to distance yourself and she couldn't even respect that. Luckily a good thing came out of that, me and my daughters don't talk to them anymore, we don't need toxic people who don't respect you even through the worst. Jane and her sister dynamic remind me of the sisters in legacies, where Lizzie didn't think of her sister when nominating Hope for something at school and Josie was so hurt and i remember my cousin saying well she cant read her mind she needs to speak up and i was like but why didn't she immediately think of her sister.

[@fionamckenzie9271]

my ~toxic trait~ is thinking that Tess deserved the engagement party scene. Okay, maybe not a big public thing, but it's absolutely karma; Tess has beeen completely awful to her the entire film, she's so selfish and doesn't care about Jane or her feelings at all

[@bakedpotato1717]

I haven’t revisited this movie since my childhood. I have Jane’s personality, this video sort of feels like a wake up call for me. I already knew what you were saying as I’ve lived it, but your video has really opened my eyes to the fact that I’m not broken or wrong for how I operate. Much of the time I’m hurt by others taking advantage of me in the same way people took advantage of Jane. I’m 30 now, and I don’t think I would have ever felt this validation if I hadn’t seen your video. (I knocked this movie as a romcom so I wouldn’t ever really rewatch it myself) I want to watch it again from an adult’s perspective instead of the glossed over, naive version I absorbed as a kid. Thank you for making this video and sharing your thoughts, you’ve really helped me love a part of myself that’s fundamentally difficult for me to love. I hope you have a wonderful day.

[@naomismith1241]

I really get the Jane tess relationship. I took on a parental role for my younger sister after my parent s divorce. I didn't do it because I wanted cudos and to be seen as super nice. But I still wanted to turn full rage monster when me sister said " you didn't have to" and shrugged instead of "thank you". There's is a diffence between needing validation and realising you just moved heaven and hell for someone who is entitled and, ungrateful.

[@jujubee2]

I didn’t know I would be getting a therapy session today. No wonder I love Jane so much I am her. 😂😢.

[@azuwaharis]

It makes sense why you think of Kevin like that, but I wouldnt say he's a bad character. not the best, but definitely not the worse. I think the boss is the worst lmaooo

[@seaweedbrain5598]

I always loved how, at the end, her wedding doesn't even look like what she kept saying she wanted. It leads me to believe that even all of her "dreams" might've been to please her mother in some way since she passed away and had no "needs" she could speak of, so Jane resorted to what she knew of her mother, and if that's what her mom wanted for her own wedding, then clearly that's what she would've wanted of Jane's wedding as well

[@SerenaSkybourne]

@@seaweedbrain5598 I know right, her wedding dress and even her bridesmaids was slightly unconventional

[@morganjones2744]

I've seen this movie many times! Always enjoy it. Somehow, it never gets old for me. Idk why.

[@kellybellypumpkinjelly]

Serena, you are so real for name-dropping Cinema Therapy !!!! Jono and Alan are the best and provide such a real, vulnerable, funny, refreshing, and deep perspective to a lot of questions in life, love, loss, and so on. also have such a genuine and special friendship :) Been following them for years!! You all should do a collab together!!! I would be the first to watch that :) wishing you all well!

[@moonie3866]

One of my absolute favorites! I would watch this all the time on FX as a tween and teen, glad people are talking about the great character work in this movie. Here's to manifesting a cinema therapy video 🤞

[@allydef]

Another thing that really bothered me about the movie was Kevin’s boss. He asked her to hold off on the article so he could rewrite it, and she agreed only to go back on her word and run the story anyway. I know that Kevin is mostly at fault because he wrote the article and he could’ve just not written it the way he did (or at all) but still, the boss is still in the wrong for that and especially because she didn’t care about how the article impacted Jane. She just told Kevin to be grateful because she finally gave him what he wanted.

[@effmltalks]

OOOO I CANT WAIT TO SEE THIS SOBER

[@LostInTheNet]

this movie had always made me feel seen but I felt uncomfortable watching it with others as no one else seemed to understand these characters thank you for the validation

[@amapolaprodigio4299]

What I really hate about Kevin is that Jane really like his work as a writter, if he was honest with her as ask her nicely she would agree to pose for a well written articule, he could paint her as a nice person Who have a lot of friends and like wedding but nooooooooooo

[@LunaBeth97]

Just realised that they could've totally changed the whole story if they changed the dudes article to calling out the sister for her lies. It would kinda remove some of the agency of Catherine's call out at the end but you could also twist it as if she was working with him, airing out their dirty laundry either knowing or not knowing about the article. The sister could still be mad at the sister but it'd also open up more of a chance of reflection on people pleasing and a more rational discussion about it. He'd still be a dick but that's in line with his character and it makes the relationship a bit less icky.

[@erynpoulin8151]

I love that u referenced @Cinema Therapy! I love them!

[@lovestosing5]

I think what's being missed here is that Jane actually IS selfish, just in a different way. Kevin becomes cynical about love and therefore very self-motivated and self-concerned about his career because it's all he has left. Jane is also being selfish in her selflessness. She believes that if she keeps doing these things, people around her will appreciate her. Especially her boss, who she's been in love with. That's what infuriates Kevin when he finds out because he thought she was one of the few selfless people that existed- and then he sees her with her boss and it clicks. YES, she IS a doormat because that's how she's been taught to behave- but she did it because she wanted to be loved and she REALLY wanted her boss to see how she could be as much of a support to him outside of work as she was inside of it. It doesn't make her a bad person. But she's using the people around her to feel validated and loved, just as they're using her to get what they want. When she establishes healthy boundaries, that's when dynamics finally shift and her life gets better (albeit with some major arguments along the way- people don't love change and not getting their way anymore).

[@musicbycassidy6954]

This has been one of my favorite movies growing up and you gave a wonderful analysis with some interesting points I hadn’t thought of before! I really enjoyed your video!

[@SerenaSkybourne]

Love youuu 🥰

[@starshake8998]

How can someone not notice a storyline that is explicitly articulated by ALL the characters in the film throughout the ENTIRE movie?

[@gaya3sree]

The writer of this movie has written a TV show called Crazy Ex Girlfriend... It is a masterpiece

[@sarahmapes2935]

As always you killed it with this video. I am a "Jane" and usually take on too much. Thank you for the reminder to take care of myself and have boundaries.

[@jovanakrivokapic]

Okkk elizabeth holmes, i see you. pop off queen

[@SerenaSkybourne]

Omg thanks queen

[@michellehuxtable5720]

Gees, thank you for this. This helped me really do some self reflection and I identity with Jane a lot. Thank you for helping me understand myself better. I will discuss this with my therapist and unpack it more in terms of my own life.

[@SerenaSkybourne]

Happy it helped you! 🥰

[@marsgal6027]

Absolutely loved this video. You hit my thoughts spot on and even brought up the complexity of Tessa. Admittedly, whenever I've rewatched the movie, I didn't like her character, but you really gave me a reason to unpack those feelings when you pointed out that she wanted so badly to be loved that she was willing to change her whole personality to get married. I also love your points on Jane, especially as I used to be more like her, trying so hard to people please, even to my own detriment at times. I think this movie holds up really well if we look at it as a sister movie, but not so much if we look at it as a romantic movie, as neither of the male leads felt developed

[@thea.rest.in.pisces]

This is such a great video, 27 Dresses has always been one of my favourite movies since it came out and i watched it for the first time. you really put into words a lot of my own feelings about the movie, and did it in such a concise and descriptive way.

[@jasper3033]

Another amazing video! Great job Mrs. Skybourne

[@OzmaOfOzz]

Hi Serena! I've been watching your videos for a long time, and I was wondering, would you ever consider a deep dive into Ally McBeal? It was such a great show in the 90s, and I think it's not talked about enough! And it's so fun and quirky but still leaves a lot of place for drama and psychological things to analyse! I know you probably have a lot of other shows you wanna talk about and I hope Ally McBeal is one of them! If you haven’t watched it yet, maybe try the first season, it does not disappoint😂 Thank you and love your analyses and comments always ❤

[@chriswildfire]

@@OzmaOfOzz ally mcbeal is great

[@OzmaOfOzz]

@@chriswildfire yes!!!

[@sowhatphie]

I wasn't ever big on romcoms, but 27 Dresses is a comfort favorite of mine ❤️

[@sowhatphie]

I do not think her younger sister should have been so easily forgiven and still got the man she lied to for so long

[@lin.st4r]

tess and jane´s dynamic reminds me so much of nora and libby´s from book lovers

[@tigrezangel]

This is one of my favorite movies, and is my favorite romcom. I agree with your analysis.

[@elainagilbert7663]

A better way for Kevin and Jane to bond could've been through conspiring to write a scathing article about Tess. It would've worked threefold: 1.) Kevin would see how much Jane does for others and fall in with her spirit and kindness, he might also feel compelled to do things for her that she wouldn't ordinarily do for herself making her feel seen and appreciated. 2.) Jane would've had an outlet to unabashedly vent without having a public outburst. 3.) Tess could've come across a rough draft of the article and seen everything Jane does clearly in black and white giving her a perspective she didn't have before culminating in a much-needed heart-to-heart between sisters. The story, as it was meant to be written never sees the light of day, but instead, Kevin hands in a piece about redemption and honesty that's still fluffy but would move him away from the bridal content he so despises into other areas that would be more fulfilling for him. During her conversation with Jane, Tess realizes of her own accord, the consequences of holding things in and lying so she chooses to tell George everything of her own volition. He would still be mad and break up with her allowing her to feel the full weight of what her relationship meant to her and how badly she mucked things up. In the end, like the actual ending, George and Tess reunite at Kevin and Jane's wedding falling in love for real this time.

[@LavenderLydia]

I'm a Name Nerd (yes, I know I'm lame), so I over analyze names in media as well. Even her very plain name, Jane, fits the people pleasing, uptight trope. Tess is more of a fun and interesting choice, typically looked at as the cool but bratty girl.

[@andraste6746]

As a fellow name nerd I has the same impression

[@katebeckett5326]

I am also a Name Nerd. You are not lame. You’re cool!

[@maytalacedo2942]

This movie was never a problem with me when I watched this as a tween and it's never been problem when my family watches it. It's really relatable when it comes to be an "eldest daughter" syndrome. My older sister and I can relate since we're the oldest in the family with a 2 Younger siblings and our youngest sisters. My mother had to work hard being the widower. So this movie helps to learn to take care of your self and voice your feelings it makes a Big difference. My little sister loves it since she see herself in Tess and understand older siblings issues. It's ridiculous they said this movie wasn't good.

[@annejohnson5875]

I don't know how Jane can afford to be a bridesmaid and all that goes along with it 27 times. She works as an assistant but has her own apartment in New York City.

[@michellecrocker2485]

The fact they take a toxic relationship element like stalking and harassment and rewards it as romantic is really unacceptable. In real life, Kevin should have been told to buzz off

[@SpiderLingual]

Really do hope Cinema Therapy does this one!

[@jaimicottrill2831]

The Take did a video that ties in well to this about the Older Sister and how she quite often (for various reasons)ends up parenting the younger siblings.

[@jesskhan09]

I wasn’t happy how the sister played the victim card.

[@SerenaSkybourne]

Same, it got really annoying

[@LunaBeth97]

I commented previously but also wanted to add that romance films like that are part of the reason I hate the romance genre as they gave me a really unrealistic view on romance. Like when I first started having crushes on boys these were the only reference I had for how someone acts. So with my first major crush I had stalker-ish tendencies that only made the guy I liked dislike me more and I was also bullied for it (kinda rightfully so) as I couldn't see that I was being weird. Then (as a kinda unrelated extension to the story) after we grew up and I stopped being weird, he DID have a mutual crush on me that I totally missed because his signs didn't align with the romance movie ideas and I thought I messed up so badly in the past that it was impossible for him to like me like that ever again. It's kinda hilarious in hindsight though as I thought it was just completely platonic that we would cuddle/ spoon a lot, hold hands, or generally be extremely close to each other with very flirty banter. Totally platonic, just guys being dudes😂

[@MADEbySOUL]

To be honest, some of us need a man to spell it out. Like give me a neon sign on a forehead because some of us have Jane Eyre syndrome.

[@CleverlyCoCo]

This kind of reminds me of 'Anne of Green Gables' where Anne doesn't realize that she's in love with Gilbert because she has unrealistic expectations of romance. I highly recommend the book series and the 1985 mini series!

[@ximenamcandrew734]

I loved Jane sooo much! She was so real

[@Sarah-ro1yw]

I think you'd like the video Playful Lines did on 27 Dresses. It's called 'Martyr Syndrome 101'

[@MsMaidh]

This was so good! I'd love to hear your take on the movie Bride Wars or 13 Going On 30.

[@SerenaSkybourne]

I was just thinking about those two!

[@ivonne_lau]

"-Pero, soy tu hermanita... -Eso era ayer, hoy eres la perra que rompió mi corazon y cortó el vestido de mamá" That line will never leave my brain, I love this movie so much, but that scene it's so iconic, be in English or Spanish, I can't get over it.

[@Loulizabeth]

So I agree with some of what you say here but you speak on a number of occasions about Jane and Tess's parents as being neglectful. Where as were told right from the start of the movie that Jane is 8 when she's at the wedding that gets her interested in weddings and we're told they've just lost their mother and the dad is clearly not coping well with his grief. These are not neglectful parents. What we're seeing here are trauma responses to the grief for a mother and also a wife. None of them were given any real help to deal with it so they stepped into roles which they continued in until the mum's wedding dress incident. Jane has been been struggling with co-dependency and parentification her entire life since her mum's death and she's never known how to get off that treadmill. Because nobody said she could. Yes Kevin is self focused to begin with and he's become cynical about love because of his own negative experiences doing the wedding column that he wants to escape v from. Yes his initial actions re the story are not good but given the v stories c that are v in n prayers and magazines I would imagine they're fairly typicical for some aspects of journalism. Plus once he's given the assignment he's happy to write it until he gets to know Jane and realises why she acts as she does and then he in fact tries to stop the article, but his boss publishes anyway. He's given the promotion but is shown to clearly not be bothered about it anymore. In fact when we see him next he's attending another wedding which basically means he's turned down the promotion and is continuing to do the wedding column. What's that if not character growth. Plus also as a few other commentators have said he goes to Tess's engagement simply to be there for her and to tell her she deserves better, someone who supports and looks after her for a change, before giving her a technological organiser of the time and walking away without any expectations of her coming after him.

[@danibanez]

omg this is literally my favorite romcom

[@SerenaSkybourne]

One of my favs too!!

[@amandamadaci7797]

I feel like shit now since this is me in a nutshell which would be at least partly why my thyroid needs help for the rest of my life

[@SerenaSkybourne]

That makes sense regarding the link between anxiety/emotional fatigue and thyroid problems. Also, the book by Louise L. Hay: Heal Your Body, argues that the following emotions are behind the thyroid: 'humiliation, I never get to do what I want to do, and when is it my turn?'

[@amandamadaci7797]

@@SerenaSkybourne You see it Serena there is something. Childhood trauma leaves consequences even if it's "way back when". In addition I am always about following my own desires and the strict rules for the topics I chose to prioritize. Not everything and not everybody gets my full attention. Regardless it is hard to fully relax and enjoy my little world when there is always someone to comment and question it, and in the worst case making it something that it isn't. Thank you for mentioning the book, it seems exactly what I would need to look up 😊♥

[@CaityJ-b7u]

thanks, i have to rewatch this movie again

[@raecoffey]

You know I’ve been having a lot of issues at work because I am constantly doing something for the office, constantly working with 0 give. I think I needed this review of 27dresses because I am definitely Jane and now issues have popped up because I’m overworked and saying I’m overworked.

[@Starbits7]

This movie definitely has layers. I think you should watch You Again (2010) & discuss it here. I love it for various reasons but it also drives me crazy. Not enough people talk about it.

[@oh_why_her]

Always a bridesmaid, never the bride

[@roajules351]

I loved this movie all my life so my opinion is whoever likes this movie knows whats up and I love u

[@Shaylovespopeye]

I love Jane and Kevin I think they make a adorable couple

[@andreaguillade7120]

Completely agree! I first watched this movie as a rom com but I keep coming back to it because of the dynamics between the sisters. I love that Tess has her own arc, and that after their mother's death each sister had their own coping mechanisms. Tess is as much a product of that early death as Jane is. I'm an eldest daughter in a household where both parents had to work full time jobs to make ends meet and I was often in charge of helping with my younger sisters... I'm a recovering people pleaser and I see myself in Jane (I've had my share of unfortunate outbursts when I had enough, that were long overdue because I'm way too tolerant), and I can also see my sisters in Tess. Great analysis! And yeah, I wish the screenwriters could have spent more time developing Kevin, so that he wasn't that much of a douche... that really hasn't aged well

[@heathercontois4501]

You nailed almost everything about Jane. There is one thing you missed. The point of her planning all these peoples weddings is so she knows exactly what she wants for her own wedding, when the time comes for it, AND she is hoping that all these women will be her friends and/or bridesmaids during preparations and execution of said wedding. The reporter semi stalks her, yes I agree she would be a fascinating news article but yes, he also could have just come right out with that; and she obsesses over her boss hoping he'll pick her (no she's not a pick me, she's a people pleaser with a crush on one person not all persons) and she can physically plan said dream wedding. She also obsesses over James Masrters character of the journalist sufficiently creepy and jaded at the same time, and he nailed also calling her out on her people pleasing, crush and jealousy.

[@hollyk7052]

I’ve watched this and knocked up soooo many times

[@Crashesdown253]

As someone who identifies with the lead character, I’d say getting together with the guy at the end is realistic. Unfortunately. Such low self worth deep down we’ll forgive too easy and go with the guy that’s insistent. A sequel of her in her 40s with kids, finally getting it would be realistic. Those who are self sacrificing to an extreme fault are “strong” in some ways, enough to where their rock bottom is REALLY low, lower than bad article written about her. It can often be physically abuse, psychological abuse, career ruined, self harm, etc until the change happens UNFORTUNATELY

[@leannavanderford4881]

Can you please do the movie Penelope? That is one of my favorite movies of all time.

[@reneecoons5057]

I love that movie!

[@annejohnson5875]

James Marsden wrote a letter of support for a guy who was on trial for child molestation.

[@anamae03]

I really like your explanation of this movie. I hadn't thought of it like that. I don't like this movie because I just see it as an ode to a surface marriage. I do not like the fact that she marries someone at the end because she fights with him..?? I think that's wrong. I like your psychological break down of the character of Jane. You have hit the nail on the head! Good job! Keep it up!

[@kahkah1986]

it is supposed to be challenging, not fighting? Like Kevin is the only character, apart from the best friend, who notices how many times she's been a bridesmaid and shows concern, he notices she's upset by her sister's actions, it actually matters to him. The same with Jane, she's the only one in the story to really notice and admire his writing, it bothers her that he might not be sincere - and he admits to her privately that he IS sincere when he's writing, he just can't admit it to himself or to others in public. I agree though, that the article is a bit of a cliff edge, irl it might be a bit extreme to marry someone who had written that about you.

[@victrola2007]

I thought that it was a darl movie all along. Tess's character is absolutely demonic.

[@TheTygertiger]

Jane and her sister didn't really have negligent parents. Their mother died and their father was left alone to parent two young daughters. He clearly loved them but was having trouble with coping with the situation. He was grieving for his wife and struggling to deal with raising his girls alone without the support of a woman. In the wedding scene in the beginning, he doesn't know how to properly do Tess's hair & as a man he can't take Tess to the women's restroom when she needs to go. When Jane volunteers to do Tess's hair and take her to the restroom in her role as the big sister, he gratefully lets her. Little by little Jane takes over more of the feminine tasks related to raising Tess, as he doesn't know how to help with girly things. He provides for them, loves them, gives them fatherly attention but he doesn't know how to try to fill the emptiness in the family caused by the loss of the mother. He never remarries and has no serious girlfriend either. Jane senses how much he misses and grieves for his wife and she wants to help out. She shields him from knowing how she really feels about having to take a bigger role in raising her sister than she normally would if her mother were still alive. Yes, she'd still help out with her little sister like all Gen X kids and previous generations were doing with their younger siblings. But she wouldn't have felt necessary to be a sister and a mom to Tess if their mother hadn't died. The dad is a bit clueless about this dynamic and the hidden resentment it creates between his daughters. Like many men, he can't really read their feelings unless they tell him how they feel, and that's exactly what Jane chooses not to do. If she had told him, I think he would have done his best to help her. But he doesn't realize how Jane feels & he is unaware of the fact that he's leaning on his elder daughter a bit too much. He doesn't mean anything bad & in many ways he's close to his girls, who are his world. But at the same time he is missing a key piece of the picture which prevents him to see the girls for who they truly are and what kind of problems they are struggling with. When he is aware of a problem, he does try to help.

[@marianneshepherd6286]

Yes! @cinematherapy please react to 27 Dresses and Legally Blonde ❤

[@Guremien]

My favoirite movie

[@cooltiger07]

the main reason I disliked this movie so much when it came out was because my then best friend literally sat on me and forced me to watch it so that I wouldn't hang out with the guy she "most certainly did not have a crush on, why would you think that? absolutely not! " (spoiler alert, she did). apart from that though, this video articulated well a lot of the problems I had with it. mainly that Kevin was a terrible love interest, and that the leading ladies were not likeable (to me). also it felt like such a ripoff from The Wedding Planner (also filled with terrible people). that said, I see why people like the movie, and no hate if you do. this video did make me realize it was a bit deeper than I remember, so kudos on that. a well made video for sure! ironically, the final thing that broke my friendship with that friend was over her (not) helping with my wedding. but that's another story.

[@arabela5092]

I appreciate Jane’s struggle but I’ll say one thing when you give people something, they’ll assume you had it to spare

[@joyvalenzuela8858]

In my opinion with people pleasers no one would of taken what she said seriously. If she would have talk to George about her sister lying she would have gotten pushed to the side because everyone is already doing that. Her sister didn’t listen to Jane when she told her to tell George. That being said this was the only way the truth would have been believed. Public humiliation isn’t ok but no other way IMO.

[@rodentary]

U should watch In Her Shoes. Its kinda a women focused movie

[@michellecrocker2485]

Invasion of privacy….yup. This movie has us ignore the lawsuit Jane would have had an entitlement to for the what? The romance

[@Mell_0]

Just say "Nawr, Cleo"

[@morganhill643]

Her parents weren’t over all neglectful… the mom died when they were young that’s why she felt like such a mother

[@radhiadeedou8286]

The mom died and the dad decided the older sister was now the mom, he was completely neglectful

[@morganhill643]

@@radhiadeedou8286 not true at all.. she saw her dad struggling at the wedding and took over herself

[@catyfaurie9446]

​@@morganhill643she was the child, he was the adult. If she took anything away from him, he allowed it to happen rather than realising that he's failing at it, and needed to step up and make a plan to figure out how to get help. Instead he sat back too happy that a part of being a parent was taken off his plate.

[@michellecrocker2485]

No doubt, Cinema therapy would have their two cents on this movie and I’d be interested to see I’d their opinions align with yours

[@ellenchavez2043]

Four things I would help my daughter leave behind: - The Urge to Merge - The Need to Please - Giving the Benefit of a Doubt - Rationalizing, normalizing, justifying bad behavior And the thing ALL women need to know about the workplace: Don't s**t where you eat. This means colleagues only at work. Whether you break up or not, it interferes with the team relationships. Get a hobby and find folks outside work.

[@estellajayne]

No, they 100% villainised her, and didn’t redeem her. What she did to her mother’s wedding dress? That was absolutely malicious.

[@xarenanotmyrealname4134]

See I never understood why people went nutso for this movie and I mean I like romantic comedies so it's not a case of not like the genre so of course I'm not going to like it I just seriously don't understand why this movie went so viral for a while.