MADE OF HONOR
US, 2008, 101 minutes, Colour.
Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Moynihan, Kevin Mc Kidd, Kadeem Hardison, Richmond Arquette, Sidney Pollack, Kathleen Quinlan.
Directed by Paul Wieland;
Lots of weddings on screen from the US these days. This is another, quite congenial and, ultimately, strongly in favour of marriage and life-long love and commitment. It would make quite a double feature with 27 Dresses.
However, this is more male-oriented than 27 Dresses, although the central character, Tom (Patrick Dempsey) and his macho basketball playing friends have to learn to recognise and cultivate their feminine side.
In 1998, Tom is at college, the campus Lothario, who is, to say the least, very promiscuous. His moral sense in terms of exploiting women is nil. However, he has rules (such as they are) about his casual relationships and has a more important rule of always telling the truth.
When he encounters a decent woman (mistaking her for her callow roommate), a genial and attractive Michelle Monaghan, he learns a bit of truth about himself. It doesn’t change him but he gains a good friend. Hannah even goes to his serial marrying-and-divorcing father’s sixth wedding – Sidney Pollack enjoying himself and even getting a rueful and regretful speech for his son. Tom and Hannah work together, talk together but neither of them thinks of marriage to the other.
When Hannah has to go to Scotland for work and falls in love with a Scottish duke, Colin (Kevin Mc Kidd), and brings him back to New York, Tom has just realised that he loves her and wants to propose. Instead, she invites him to be her Maid of Honour at the wedding – and to fulfil all the duties of preparing the bridal shower (his friends do help him), going shopping, meeting the minister and collaborating with the bridesmaids. He also tries to outshine his rival who, it seems, has no skeletons in his closet, is charming and learns to slam dunk baskets (which Tom and co cannot do).
The scene shifts to Scotland and the scenery will have many in the audience making mental notes that they should visit the highlands. Tom takes a chance at beating Colin at the elaborate highland games – and almost does. But, he doesn’t.
The question in the audience’s mind is how is he going to persuade Hannah not to go through with the wedding and marry him instead. You will just have to see Made of Honour to find out.
The very light touch, the charm of Patrick Dempsey, the attractiveness of Michelle Monaghan and the New York settings and Scottish locations all help considerably.
1. A popular romantic comedy, 21st century style?
2. The city of New York, its atmosphere, its streets, shops, restaurants, galleries? Authentic feel? The musical score?
3. The contrast with Scotland, the islands, the lochs, castle, the ferry, the highland games, authentic Scotland with a touch of romance? The Robert Burns poems and songs?
4. The title, Tom and his sense of honour, being asked to be Maid of Honour?
5. The introduction to Tom, the Cornell university, promiscuous, the masks, the references to Monica Lewinski and Hillary Clinton, meeting Hannah, bursting into the room, the mistake, the sick room mate? The interchange between Hannah and Tom, the truth being told?
6. Ten years passing, their being best friends? Their work, Hannah being a confidante, going to Tom’s father’s frequent weddings? His life, his relationships with women, still promiscuous, his rules, his friends and their basketball games, their adolescent male talk, sex and commitment – and their not understanding it?
7. Men’s talk, the games? Tom and his realising what had happened in his relationship with Hannah, telling them of his intentions?
8. Hannah going to Scotland, the mobile phone calls, the middle of the night, her return, the image of her driving through the cattle, Colin coming to rescue her on horseback? Colin coming to New York, the romance? The declaration, Tom’s shock, his being Maid of Honour?
9. The men and their reaction, talk, helping with preparing the gifts for the wedding shower, playing basketball with Colin to humiliate him, and his being able to slamdunk when they couldn’t? The investigation and not finding anything against Colin?
10. Tom and the bridesmaids, his meeting them, the cousin and her despising Tom from later experience (and her later advance)? The fat girl, the cousin? The fat girl and the diet, splitting her dress, the pins at the wedding? Talk, helping Hannah, the shower and the woman with the sex accessories and his being tricked by Stephanie? Hannah’s grandmother and the sex effect necklace?
11. Colin, a nice Scot, charming to Hannah, the slam dunks at basketball, returning to Scotland, welcoming the boar, hunting and killing the food for the banquet, singing Burns’ songs, his efforts in the games and winning?
12. Hannah, the preparation for the marriage, going with Tom to see the minister, the discussions with her mother, grandmother, the travel with the friends to Scotland?
13. Scotland, Colin’s parents, his outspoken aunt, the lifestyle, wealth, the meal, the games?
14. Tom, his participation in the games, losing? His realising of the truth, being too late, Stephanie going to his room, his going to talk with Hannah, Hannah saying she needed someone she could trust?
15. The wedding, the setup, her hair, the dress?
16. Tom, his decision to leave, his change of heart, getting the horse, riding to the castle, landing on the floor of the aisle in the church?
17. Hannah, her reaction, kissing him, Colin is a good sport yet punching Tom, the urging of his aunt? Hannah’s mother and her satisfaction?
18. The New York wedding, the celebration? The happy ending?
19. The popularity of this kind of romantic comedy – and the tradition of marriage for life and commitment?
