Bridesmaids

Bridesmaids

Comedy

2011

Rated: R

Running Time: 125 minutes

Starring: Kristen Weig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Chris O'Dowd, Jon Hamm

Directed By: Paul Feig

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Outline

A woman must plan her best friend’s wedding on a tight budget and having to deal with an odd group of bridesmaids.

Review

Bridesmaids this, Bridesmaids that. This movie was the toast of the town in the summer of 2011. Most of the praise going to this overhyped movie was for the most part undeserved. Women wanted to make a big statement with this film. They wanted to prove that they can be just as crass and vulgar as their male counter parts. Most importantly they wanted to prove they can be just as funny as guys can be. The thing is Anna Farris has been doing this style of humor for over a decade now with little notoriety. Not to mention such heavyweights as Sarah Silverman and Lisa Lampanelli. While this movie was decent and at times hilarious it also had many moments of unoriginal script and jokes. Bridesmaids (BM from now on. I am taking back the acronym bowel movement so take that!) is the simple tale of Annie Walker and her best friend Lillian. Lillian has gotten engaged and has asked Annie to be her maid of honor. It causes Annie to reevaluate her own life while planning all the events leading up to the wedding. She must do all of this on a tight budget while juggling her career, relationships, and her future goals.

A pretty funny booty call opening scene sets the tone and vibe for this movie. It lets the viewers know that this isn’t going to be another typical romantic comedy. It is going to push the limits of taste, and that it does quite frequently. The movie doesn’t really get going until Annie is introduced to the other BM’s. Of course the movie would be boring if they all had similar personalities. (So they go super eclectic with them of course.) One BM is a married and bitter mother, the next is a happy newlywed BM, there is a rich and snobby BM, and lastly a portly and masculine BM. It is a ludicrous bunch but great for this type of film. The story is standard fare with the women going from venue to venue in preparation for the wedding. The movie never gets deeper than that so it is very hit or miss. A scene where the BM’s suffer from violent expulsions from both ends of their bodies (VERY original) at the wedding dress store is funny to watch. A scene where Annie battles fellow BM Helen (Byrne) for the microphone during a toast is not only awkward but really hard to sit through.

The acting is pretty good in this film. Kristen Wiig translates her SNL comedic chops quite easily into the leading role of Annie. She shows she will do anything for a laugh including a scene where she mimics Hitler while doped up. Or an engagement party freak out that you don’t want to miss. She was the right choice even though she can be super annoying sometimes (See Knocked Up). The two surprise highlights for me were Megan and Ted. BM Megan played by Melissa McCarthy stole the show much the same way Zach Galifianakis did in the Hangover. (An Oscar nod though? Cough) Her masculine, say what she is thinking character supplied an ample amount of laughs. She was great and made this movie for me. The next was Ted who plays Annie’s booty call boyfriend. He had a small role but his dickish, and carefree attitude towards Annie did not miss my attention. He proves that being an asshole can be funny. Rose Byrne, Maya Rudolf are also in this film if you are fans of theirs.

No doubt this movie can be funny but it also stretches for a lot of its jokes, Annie’s roommates are an albino looking brother and sister from England. They are forced on the viewer and most people will hate this creepy and unfunny duo. The film also presents a budding relationship between Annie and a cop named Rhodes. It showed this film couldn’t help itself in presenting the tired relationship angle that wasn’t even remotely needed in this film. The film has the typical plot problems and a typical ending but does get the laughs when it needs to.

Director Paul Feig (Um can we get that last name phonetically please) has done what very few if any directors have done before. Guiding an all woman cast through a male dominated genre is to be commended. The casting was right, the pacing was right; the jokes while not always funny come at steady intervals. Overall a great job on the film.

I give this movie a recommendation but be warned. It will be enjoyed more by people who have not seen many comedies as the material can be unoriginal.

 T Factor + If you have not seen many raunchy comedies before this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you are looking for fresh material this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: The Hangover, Wedding Crashers.