"The Wedding Date"

Have you ever noticed how Hollywood releases certain kinds of films at specific times during the year? Blockbusters are reserved for summer months. Oscar hopefuls come out at the end of the year. Kid films get released over holiday weekends with the idea of a family outing to the multiplex. Valentine's Day always gets a few releases tailored just for it-the romantic comedy. Or, if you prefer, "the chick flick."

To satisfy the needs of people everywhere to drag their significant others to the movie theater for a "you are my Valentine" date movie, Hollywood gives us "The Wedding Date." Be warned, significant others, be warned.

Debra Messing plays Kat Ellis, who is single and still down in the dumps about the love of her life giving her the boot after seven years together. Kat is thrown into a neurotic fit when she has to go to London to be in her sister's wedding-a wedding which will also have The Ex as best man.

What is a girl to do in such a situation? Show up with her dignity in a killer dress and face The Ex like an adult? Or go the Richard Gere route in "Pretty Woman" and hire an escort to pretend to be a new romantic love? Tough call. Kat subscribes to the Gere method, forks over six grand and gets the suave, educated-at-Brown-in-comparative-literature Nick Mercer (Dermot Mulroney) as her paid hunk of a man to fool The Ex.

As paid escorts go, Nick is worth every penny. He's got dreamy eyes, a chiseled bod and Kat is soon in swooning mode. He gets everyone eating out of the palm of his hand as he dispenses gigolo wisdom into the ways of the female heart. And loins. As I said, Nick is worth every penny.

As a romantic lead, Messing is lining up in a long line of television stars who want to escape the boob tube for the big screen. Last year saw one of the biggest disasters ever in this pursuit as Ray Romano made the wretched "Welcome to Mooseport." Messing doesn't fare as poorly because she aimed much lower with "The Wedding Date," as it is basically an 80-minute sitcom. If you like the Debra Messing on "Will and Grace," you are likely to find the Debra Messing in this appealing as well.

"The Wedding Date" tries to ape some of the vibe off the much superior "Four Weddings and A Funeral" by utilizing the London setting and the quirky Brits, but it pales against such a film. Messing belongs on television. The supporting cast is nowhere near good enough-although Sarah Parish whips off a few worthy zingers as a raunchy cousin.

Make no bones about it: "The Wedding Date" is formulaic fluff, pure and simple. It's harmless and hard to trash because of those characteristics, as it is just upholding the traditions of the genre. The "chick flick" is supposed to be as sappy, cheesy and predictable as the day is long. If it did not have those attributes, it would rise higher in the cinematic food chain. It is what it is-an inoffensive slice of lightweight romantic comedy that Hollywood has been churning out for 70 years and a genre I find personally pleasing.

Significant others out there, just be prepared when your Valentine calls you on their cell phone or takes you by the hand and says, "I've got a movie I want to see." Be warned, be warned.
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