Made of Honor (2008)

Director:

Paul Weiland

Writers (WGA):

Adam Sztykiel (screenplay) and
Deborah Kaplan (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

2 May 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

It takes a real man to become a maid of honor.

Plot:

A guy in love with an engaged woman tries to win her over after she asks him to be her maid of honor.

Plot Keywords:

Maid Of Honor | Wedding | Love | Hair Spray | Bar

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Patrick Dempsey	...	Thomas 'Tom' Bailey
Michelle Monaghan	...	Hannah
Kevin McKidd	...	Colin McMurray
Kadeem Hardison	...	Felix
Chris Messina	...	Dennis
Richmond Arquette	...	Gary
Busy Philipps	...	Melissa
Whitney Cummings	...	Stephanie
Emily Nelson	...	Hilary
Kathleen Quinlan	...	Joan
Selma Stern	...	Grandma Pearl
Sydney Pollack	...	Thomas Bailey Sr.
James Sikking	...	Reverend Foote
Kevin Sussman	...	Tiny Shorts Guy
Beau Garrett	...	Gloria

Also Known As:

Made of Honour (Australia) (Hong Kong: English title) (UK)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and language. (edited; originally Rated R for some sex-related material.)

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

USA:R (original rating) | Ireland:15A | UK:12A | Canada:G (Québec) | Iceland:L | Australia:M | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-7 | Denmark:7 | Norway:A | Sweden:Btl | Brazil:10 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:AL | Malaysia:U | Hong Kong:IIA | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Spain:7 | Venezuela:PG-13 | Argentina:Atp | USA:PG-13 (edited for re-rating) (certificate #44056) | Greece:K | Peru:PT | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Columbia Pictures

Trivia:

Part of the filming was at Dunvegan Castle, a fortress stronghold in an idyllic loch-side setting, and said to be the oldest inhabited castle in northern Scotland. It has been occupied continuously by the chiefs of MacLeod for over seven centuries and it is still the MacLeod ancestral home. It was on the extensive grounds of the castle that the Highland Games as well as a touching scene between Hannah and Tom were filmed.

Goofs:

Continuity: When they first arrive in Scotland there are only two cars on the ferry, but as they drive off there are three.

Quotes:

Melissa: Could someone please pass me the Splenda? Could someone who is not a misogynist pass the Splenda?
Melissa: [Stephanie takes the sugar bowl out of Tom's hand and passes it to Melissa] Thank you, Stephanie.

Movie Connections:

References Dog Soldiers (2002)

Soundtrack:

Misty Blue

Remake of "Loverboy"?

I enjoyed Made of Honor. Often cute, quite engaging, the characters are likable, the story well-paced. There is no real bad-guy, the 'villain' is the Dempsey character's lack of self-respect, his shallow manipulation of sexual intimacies, and his failure to understand himself - or his devotion to his long-time friend.

I noticed that once the notion occurs to Tom, during Hannah's trip to Scotland, that he is in love - he stops playing around. Not 'saving himself', he is no longer interested in the no-attachment, free sex lifestyle. He develops a conscience, he focuses his energy on the object of the first girl he ever loved.

There are numerous places that show Tom turning from shallow player to being devoted and in love. His attempts to sabotage the planned wedding and regain the girl he loves are half-hearted - he knows who he has been, and wants the best for Hannah. The guy threatening his love by wanting to marry Hannah - we come to know Colin as a responsible adult, a good prospect and a good man. Perhaps a bit colorless, as seen from the point of view of the two friends, but no worse than that.

So I admire the morals of the picture, and the emotional growth of the characters. And yet ..

It strikes me that this is a rehash of Dempsey's 'Loverboy' film. Again we see Dempsey engaging in apparently consensual, shallow intimate relationships, to win the girl of his heart. I expected cameos from Kate Jackson and Tia Carrera at any time. And the similarities distracted me a bit.

But Made of Honor is better schlock than Loverboy was. And more recent. And has a horse.