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Made of Honor
Made of Honor
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Made of Honor
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPaul Weiland
Screenplay by
Story byAdam Sztykiel
Produced byNeal H. Moritz
Starring
CinematographyTony Pierce-Roberts
Edited byRichard Marks
Music byRupert Gregson-Williams
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing
Release date
  • May 2, 2008 (2008-05-02)
Running time
101 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$40 million[2]
Box office$106.4 million[2]

Made of Honor is a 2008 American romantic comedy film directed by Paul Weiland and written by Adam Sztykiel, Deborah Kaplan, and Harry Elfont. The film stars Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan, and Sydney Pollack.

The plot follows a lifelong playboy who falls in love with his best friend, only to have her get engaged. She asks him to be her maid of honor. The film was released by Columbia Pictures in the United States on May 2, 2008, and garnered unfavorable reviews from critics, but grossed $106.4 million worldwide.

Plot

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On Halloween night 1998 amidst his senior year at Cornell University, Tom Bailey Jr., dressed as Bill Clinton, enters the dark dorm room of Monica, his pre-arranged date. Thinking Monica is in the bed, he climbs in and she maces him with perfume. It was actually Monica's geeky roommate, Hannah. They flirt but he insults her. When Hannah and Tom return to the dorm room, a drunken Monica is there waiting, but he does not stay. Ten years later, Tom is now wealthy in New York City as his coffee collar invention pays him a dime every time one is used. Hannah, also in the city, has stayed best friends with him ever since that night in college. Tom continues to sleep with a different girl every week, while Hannah stays single, focusing on her career at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Tom takes Hannah to his father Thomas Sr.'s sixth wedding. They share an intimate moment when they dance, however, Tom still thinks of her as his best friend. After the wedding, Hannah tells Tom that she has a 6-week-work trip to Scotland. Tom realizes that, being with a different woman week after week isn't fulfilling when he can't see Hannah. Realizing he has feelings for Hannah, Tom decides to tell her when she returns.

Hannah does not come back alone; she brings Colin McMurray, a wealthy Scottish Duke, as her fiancé. Asking Tom to be her maid of honor he accepts. He does so to spend time with Hannah, convince her to stop the wedding and win her heart. As Hannah's maid of honor, Tom is introduced to the three bridesmaids. One is Melissa, Hannah's cousin and an ex, whose heart he broke and is now upset that she isn't the maid of honor. Melissa sabotages the bridal shower by tricking him into inviting Sharon, a sex toy saleswoman, as a party entertainer. Believing it was Tom's idea, Hannah gets upset and almost fires Tom, but thanks to his friends' "How to Be a Perfect M-O-H 101" course, he wins her trust back. Taking her shopping, he impresses her with a plate-juggling performance. Hannah enjoys it, but reveals she is moving to Scotland after the wedding.

Tom, almost accepting defeat, continues being a responsible maid of honor by traveling to Scotland with Hannah. After their arrival at Eilean Donan Castle, he meets Colin's family. They have a variant of the Highland games, in which the groom competes to prove himself worthy of his bride. Tom also participates, hoping to defeat Colin, but he loses in the last round. At the rehearsal dinner, Colin's family proudly tells Hannah (who opposes to the killing and eating of animals) that every plate of meat on the table is from animals that Colin killed. Later that night, Tom offers to help go over her vows. As he starts to tell her his feelings, the other bridesmaids interrupt, dragging Hannah to her bachelorette party.

Hannah has to give every man in the pub a peck for a coin (Scottish tradition), including Tom. When it is his turn, without anyone looking, he passionately kisses her, and she kisses back. Afterwards, Hannah goes to Tom's room to discuss the kiss but sees Melissa, in a drunken stupor, trying to seduce him. Seeing Hannah at the door, he pushes Melissa off and runs after her. Hannah refuses to let Tom into her room and she tells him she is still marrying Colin the next day. The distressed Tom gives up being the maid of honor as he cannot bear to watch them marry, so he decides to go back home.

As he is leaving the next morning, Tom realizes that he must stop the wedding immediately, telling the driver to turn back. Finding the only ferry unavailable, he borrows a horse to ride to the ceremony. As he is riding up to the church doors, the horse stops, sending him flying through the chapel doors and interrupting the wedding. Hannah rushes to Tom's side and he declares his love. She realizes she loves Tom back and kisses him passionately, calling off the wedding and apologizing to Colin, who punches Tom in the face. Tom and Hannah go back to New York together, getting married on a rooftop under the stars and live happily ever after.

Cast

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Production

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The filming schedule was 26 days to accommodate Patrick Dempsey's commitments to Grey's Anatomy. Dempsey was part of the project before the director was chosen and agreed to Paul Weiland after seeing an early cut of his coming-of-age film Sixty-Six.[3] The scene where Tom Bailey (Dempsey) juggles plates was not in the script and was added on the day.[4][3]

Eilean Donan castle, the home of Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) in film Highlander, was used for exterior shots of one of the McMurray family homes.[5][6]

Release

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Made of Honor had a celebrity screening at the Soho Hotel in London on April 21, 2008.[7] It was released in the United States by Sony Pictures Releasing on May 2, 2008.[8]

The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on September 16, 2008.[9]

Reception

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Box office

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On its opening weekend, the film grossed $15.5 million in 2,729 theaters in the United States and Canada, averaging $5,679 per theater, and ranking #2 at the box office behind Iron Man.[2] It grossed a total of $46 million in North American and $60 million internationally, for a total worldwide gross of $106 million, against its $40 million budget.[2]

Critical response

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Made of Honor received unfavorable reviews from critics, with some critics calling it a gender swapped version of My Best Friend's Wedding.[10][11][12][13] On the website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 15% based on 124 reviews, with an average rating of 4.1/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Sharp performances by Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monaghan can't save this forgettable, formulaic chick flick from its comic failings."[14] On Metacritic, the film holds a weighted average score of 37 out of 100, based on 25 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.[15] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade B+ on scale of A to F.[16]

Keith Phipps of The A.V. Club gave the film an overall C grade, giving credit to the performances of Sydney Pollack and Monaghan for being surprisingly good in a by-the-numbers romantic story alongside Dempsey displaying "plastic sincerity" in his role, saying: "It's telling that he's followed by a string of sidekicks apparently created to make him less bland by comparison."[10] The New York Times' Stephen Holden commended the punch-up of the script for adding "tart satirical flavors to a cotton-candy formula" and the screen presence of both Dempsey and Monaghan, highlighting the latter for giving "enough sweetness to satisfy the cotton-candy addicts."[11] Barbara Vancheri of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette praised the utilization of the "picturesque, romantic" Scotland setting and the cast's willingness to perform, despite devolving into slapstick comedy and tacking on a 1940s film ending. She concluded by explaining its release alongside Iron Man saying: "Made of Honor is made to order for women or couples looking for an alternative to the comic-book adaptation and for a romcom with such obvious and memorable film forebears, it's still breezy fun."[17]

Elizabeth Weitzman from the New York Daily News gave credit to Dempsey for his comedic timing over material containing "snickering emasculation" and director Paul Weiland for his "brisk pace" direction over "a lazy script from three screenwriters who take the low road every time." She concluded that: "The cinematic equivalent of a cookie-cutter wedding, Made of Honor ultimately feels a little depressing."[12] Philip Marchand of the Toronto Star noted how the film's content contains "numerous references to insecure masculinity", saying that: "It's often a problem to determine when a movie is satirizing characters from a superior height and when it's sharing the mental level of those characters."[18] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian said about the film beyond its "gibberish" title: "Everything else about it is plasticky and nonsensical with no one behaving like a real carbon-based life-form. Monaghan's charm is stifled, and a classy cameo from Sydney Pollack as Dempsey's scapegrace dad goes for nothing. A film to leave at the altar."[13] Ed Gonzalez from Slant Magazine called the film "soul-crushingly predictable", lamenting the misuse of Pollack's "ostensible prestige" only for it to be diminished by Kevin Sussman's character, unfunny sex jokes, an irritating soundtrack and defamation of Scottish people.[19]

The film was nominated for Choice Movie – Bromantic Comedy at the 2008 Teen Choice Awards, but ultimately lost to What Happens in Vegas.[20]

References

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from Grokipedia
Made of Honor is a American film directed by Paul Weiland. The story centers on Tom (), a serial dater and long-time platonic friend of Hannah (), who asks him to serve as her maid of honor after she becomes engaged to a wealthy Scotsman named Colin (). Realizing his true feelings for her, Tom embarks on a mission to win Hannah's heart before the wedding. Produced by , , and , and distributed by Releasing, the film premiered in the United States on May 2, 2008. It features supporting performances by and in one of his final roles. The screenplay was written by , , and . Upon release, Made of Honor received mixed reviews from critics, earning a 15% approval rating on based on 123 reviews, with praise for its leads' chemistry but criticism for predictable plotting. Audiences were more favorable, giving it a 55% score on the same site. The movie grossed $46 million domestically against a $40 million , performing modestly at the .

Synopsis

Plot

Tom (Patrick Dempsey) and Hannah (Michelle Monaghan) meet in 1998 during their college years at , when Tom, dressed as for a , seeks refuge in Hannah's dorm room to escape a jealous boyfriend of a woman he has just slept with; they quickly bond over their conversation and become inseparable platonic friends for the next ten years. Over that time, Tom evolves into a successful inventor and serial womanizer who avoids commitment, exemplified by his creation of the disposable coffee sleeve and his habit of dating multiple women without emotional attachment, while Hannah, an art at the , provides stability and support in their friendship but yearns for a serious relationship and . Hannah travels to for a six-week business trip to acquire rare artworks, where she meets and falls in love with Colin McKenzie (), a charming, wealthy Scottish and Scotch whiskey distiller whose old-world and estate captivate her. Upon returning to New York, she announces her engagement to Colin and, citing her close bond with Tom and the unavailability of her sister, asks him to serve as her maid of honor at the upcoming wedding in , oblivious to his deeper feelings. Devastated by jealousy and finally recognizing his long-suppressed romantic love for Hannah, Tom agrees to the role in hopes of sabotaging the union or convincing her of his affections, setting off his internal conflict between loyalty to their friendship and his desire to claim her as his partner. Tom flies to with Hannah's three —her cousin Melissa and friends Stephanie and Brooke—for the week-long wedding preparations at Colin's ancestral castle, where he endures humorous mishaps such as trying on the frilly maid of honor dress during fittings and participating in traditional Scottish activities that highlight his American awkwardness. Colin's boisterous family, including his competitive brother and warm parents, initially welcomes Tom warmly, but his attempts to undermine Colin—such as spiking drinks at the raucous involving , , and —backfire comically, leading to bonding moments that reveal Colin's genuine kindness and wealth as formidable obstacles to Tom's plan. As the preparations intensify with family dinners, a disastrous sheep-herding game, and tense interactions where Hannah remains focused on her happiness with Colin, Tom's jealousy peaks, forcing him to confront his womanizing past and the stability Hannah represents, while she begins to sense his turmoil but dismisses it as pre-wedding nerves. On the wedding day, amid the scenic , Tom interrupts the ceremony with a heartfelt confession of his love, prompting Hannah to realize her true feelings lie with him rather than Colin, who graciously steps aside, allowing Tom and Hannah to begin a romantic relationship and leave behind the platonic dynamic that defined their .

Cast

The principal cast of Made of Honor (2008) is led by , , and in the central roles.
ActorRoleDescription
Thomas "Tom" Bailey Jr.A serial dater and inventor of the cardboard coffee sleeve who serves as Hannah's longtime best friend.
HannahA successful art curator at the and Tom's platonic confidante.
Colin McKenzieHannah's charming and wealthy Scottish fiancé.
FelixTom's quirky roommate and close confidant.
DennisA member of Tom's circle of friends.
MelissaHannah's cousin and one of her s, who resents Tom due to their past relationship.
BrookeOne of Hannah's s.
SammyA in Hannah's wedding party.
StephanieA friend in the wedding entourage.
JoanHannah's mother.
Thomas Bailey, Sr.Tom's father.

Production

Development

The screenplay for Made of Honor originated from a written by , which was sold to for low against mid-six figures in 2003. The project was then developed with a screenplay by and , who reworked Sztykiel's story into a centered on a man realizing his love for his best friend after she asks him to serve as her maid of honor. This gender-flipped premise drew comparisons to the 2005 film The Wedding Date, where a woman hires a male escort for a wedding, though Made of Honor emphasized platonic friendship turning romantic. In 2006, announced the project's advancement, attaching British director Paul Weiland, known for prior feature films like City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994) and commercials, to helm the production in what would be his return to after directing music videos and advertisements. was signed early as the lead, leveraging his rising star status from television. The film was produced by in association with and , with overseeing as a key producer. The development emphasized comedic elements in revisions to the script, aligning with modern romantic comedy tropes while loosely echoing the structure of My Best Friend's Wedding (1997), particularly the theme of sabotaging a wedding to win back a friend-turned-love interest, but updated for contemporary audiences with lighter humor over dramatic tension. The budget was set at $40 million to support location shooting and ensemble casting.

Casting

The casting for Made of Honor commenced in early 2007, with and secured for the lead roles of Tom and Hannah, respectively, ahead of . Dempsey's involvement capitalized on his burgeoning stardom from the ABC series , positioning him as the ideal choice for the charming playboy lead. Monaghan, fresh off her supporting turn in the 2007 drama , was selected to portray the grounded best friend, bringing emotional depth to the rom-com dynamic. Kevin McKidd was cast as the Scottish suitor Colin to ensure cultural authenticity, with director Paul Weiland directing him to essentially "be himself" in the role—a departure from McKidd's typical dramatic characters and a challenge he embraced after script review and family consultation. The actor's Elgin, , roots lent natural credibility to the character's gentlemanly demeanor and accent during the film's Scottish sequences. Supporting roles filled out the ensemble progressively, including and as Tom's fleeting romantic interests for comedic contrast, chosen through chemistry tests with to heighten the film's humorous tone. Challenges arose in casting Colin's family members, particularly in sourcing performers proficient in authentic Scottish dialects to maintain consistency in accent work. joined as a bridesmaid, contributing to the wedding party's dynamic and reflecting efforts to incorporate diverse backgrounds in the supporting cast. Auditions for key roles emphasized rom-com timing, with improvising scenes to demonstrate his comedic versatility. Monaghan edged out competitors, including , for Hannah after multiple reads that highlighted her rapport with .

Filming

for Made of Honor commenced in April 2007 and wrapped in July 2007, spanning approximately 12 weeks across multiple international locations to depict the film's New York and Scottish settings. Filming in captured the urban and college elements of the story, utilizing iconic sites such as Central Park's Bow Bridge and Bethesda Terrace for key romantic and reflective scenes, alongside and for bustling city life. Flashback sequences set at were shot using nearby New York-area university exteriors to evoke the characters' college years. The production then moved to Scotland in May for the wedding sequences, leveraging the Highlands' dramatic landscapes for authenticity. Principal sites included as the groom's family estate, on the Isle of Skye, and scenic areas around Kylerhea and for picturesque drives and outdoor moments. Additional shooting occurred in at the and surrounding valleys to represent the wedding festivities, with the crew benefiting from unusually clear and beautiful weather that facilitated smooth operations. Logistical coordination proved essential for action-oriented sequences, such as the protagonist's urgent ride through the countryside to reach the , filmed on with live animals to maintain realism amid the rugged terrain. The bachelor party antics relied on practical stunts and set pieces rather than extensive digital intervention. In post-production, editor handled the assembly, focusing on pacing the rom-com's blend of humor and heartfelt moments. were kept minimal, primarily enhancing crowd dynamics in the assembly scenes for a more lively atmosphere. The original score, composed by , underscored the film's lighthearted tone with whimsical and romantic motifs. During shoots, leads and built a natural rapport that amplified their on-screen chemistry.

Release

Theatrical release

Made of Honor had its New York premiere on April 29, 2008, at the Ziegfeld Theatre, where a real-life took place on the as part of a promotional contest. The film received a wide theatrical release in the United States on May 2, 2008, distributed by . Internationally, it premiered in on April 21, 2008, with theatrical rollouts beginning in the on May 2, 2008, and expanding to other European markets such as on May 15, 2008. Sony Pictures handled worldwide distribution, including limited releases in select international markets to align with regional audience interests in . The of America rated the film PG-13 for sexual content and . The campaign emphasized classic tropes, such as the best-friend-to-lover arc and wedding chaos, through trailers released in early 2008. Promotional posters prominently featured stars and in wedding attire, evoking lighthearted romance. Tie-ins included partnerships with wedding magazines for features on bridal trends, while events like the "Get Married at the Premiere" contest offered couples an all-expenses-paid wedding and honeymoon, drawing media attention to the film's theme. The film faced minor backlash for its premise, seen by some critics as a gender-flipped retread of the 1997 , leading to comparisons that highlighted perceived lack of originality.

Home media

The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray by on September 16, 2008, in the United States. The DVD edition included an audio commentary track by director Paul Weiland, deleted scenes such as "Locker Room" and "," and featurettes like "Save the Date: The Making of Made of Honor" (focusing on production aspects including Scottish location filming) and "Three Weddings and a ." The Blu-ray version offered the same supplements plus BD-Live functionality and a for portable devices. Digital releases followed in 2008 on platforms including and Amazon Video, allowing purchase and rental shortly after the physical launch. As of November 2025, the film is available for streaming on Apple TV Channel in the , with rental and purchase options on Amazon Video, Apple TV, and At Home, though it has not received a major 4K UHD upgrade. The modest theatrical performance prompted an aggressive home media marketing push to bolster overall returns. Home video sales were strong, with the DVD selling 998,425 units and generating $15.3 million in , with 563,033 units in its first year and contributing significantly to the film's profitability. No special editions, such as a 10th anniversary remaster, have been officially released as of 2025.

Reception

Box office

Made of Honor had a of $40 million. The film earned $46,012,734 in the United States and , representing 43.2% of its total gross, while international markets contributed $60,535,999, bringing the worldwide total to $106,548,733. It opened in third place at the North American on May 2, 2008, grossing $14,756,850 from 2,729 theaters. The following weekend saw a 45% decline to $8,116,323, as it faced stiff competition from , which dominated the charts with over $98 million in its debut. Despite the drop, the film maintained a solid run, ultimately ranking 61st among domestic releases for 2008. Internationally, Made of Honor performed strongly in the , where it grossed $4,699,956 overall, buoyed by the film's Scottish filming locations and themes. This contributed to its international success, helping the film exceed its budget theatrically, though domestic earnings fell short of expectations for a starring . The movie achieved profitability, with ancillary markets such as home media playing a key role in its overall financial recovery.

Critical response

Made of Honor received mixed to negative reviews from critics upon its release. On , the film has a Tomatometer score of 15% based on 123 reviews, with an average rating of 3.9/10; the site's consensus states that "Sharp performances by and can't save this forgettable, formulaic from its comic failings." Audience approval stands at 55% from over 250,000 ratings, indicating a more favorable popular reception. On , it holds a score of 37 out of 100 from 25 critics, categorized as "generally unfavorable," while the user score is 5.4 out of 10 based on 39 ratings, reflecting mixed sentiments. Some reviewers praised the on-screen chemistry between leads and , along with the film's lighthearted comedic elements and picturesque Scottish settings. Screen Daily highlighted the "appealing performances" from the duo, noting their "obvious spark" despite the conventional narrative. Similarly, the romantic tension in their friendship provided moments of charm, with the scenic backdrops adding visual appeal to the sequences. Critics largely panned the movie for its predictable storyline, reliance on clichéd romantic tropes, and weak scripting. Variety described it as feeling "recycled from top to bottom," likening it to a "shopworn gown disguised with a new sash." called it an "unspeakable romcom" with "forced" elements, criticizing its derivative blend of influences like and . The film exemplifies the friendship-to-romance trope, delving into themes of unspoken love and gender dynamics in platonic relationships turning amorous, which resonated in analyses of 2000s rom-coms. Released in 2008 amid a proliferation of similar fare following the Sex and the City film, it faced criticism for contributing to genre fatigue with overfamiliar setups. By the 2020s, retrospective views have softened somewhat, with outlets like The A.V. Club in 2020 labeling it an "interesting case study" for its unpretentious take on the formula, evoking nostalgia for early Dempsey-led comedies.

References

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