Its Like ‘Wedding Crashers’ for Ladies
“Bridesmaids” (3.5 Stars out of Five)
Let me start by saying that a “chick flick” that tries to advertise itself as ‘not a chick flick’ is bound to be more of a “chick flick” than any of the “chick flicks” that have come before it. Director Paul Feig’s (“The Office”) new movie, written by SNL cast member Kristen Wiig is no different from the types of self described non chick flicks that have come before it. Remember a few years back when Cameron Diaz made a movie called “The Sweetest Thing?” It was about three good-looking gals doing gross humor and it wasn’t supposed to be a movie for girls, because the humor was profane. Apparently, somebody along the way decided that women aren’t allowed to like movies such as “The Hangover” or “Step Brothers”. So, because of that fact we get movies like “The Sweetest Thing” and now “Bridesmaids.” By summer’s end though, “Bridesmaids” might not only end up being one of the funnier movies of 2011, it may just be the type of sleeper hit that “The Hangover” (“guy movie”) became a couple of years ago. However, be warned fellahs; this is still a movie about women competing to be the best bridesmaid, with a plot that involves wedding showers and shopping for wedding dresses. So I’m sorry to say, it’s still pretty much a chick flick. Although there’s plenty of laugh out loud moments to be seen, I would ask that the boys out there who would like to see this, bring at least one gal-pal along because you’ll be outnumbered in the theatre anyway.
Lillian and Annie are life-long friends who have shared everything together. Now though, after a rough patch of relationships and failed career attempts it has come to Lillian to be the first of the duo to grow up and say “I do” to her long-term boyfriend. Annie (Kristen Wiig) tries to be happy for her best friend. Lillian (Maya Rudolph) of course asks Annie to be her maid of honor, but things in Annie’s life are not all that great. She’s got a tragic living arrangement where her roommates want her to move out. Every day she gets to stop by the spot where her bakery, “The Cake Lady” was once located, and it is a constant of her failure as a small business start-up. Her car is a piece of trash and the man that she’s sleeping with (Jon Hamm, in a hilarious cameo) doesn’t want to take the next step beyond “f**K buddies”. As if all of that wasn’t bad enough, Annie’s got to contend with rich bitch Helen (Rose Byrne, “Troy” and “X-Men: First Class”) a new friend in Lillian’s life. She’s the wife of Lillian’s fiancé’s boss. Helen is hell bent on usurping Annie as maid of honor, and since Helen is pretty much made of money, there isn’t much that’s going to stand in her way.
The other bridesmaids are a rag tag bunch of misfits. There’s Rita (Wendi McLendon-Covey, from “Reno 9-1-1”) a woman who just wants an excuse to leave her home life where she is apparently miserable. Becca (Ellie Kemper, “The Office”) is newly married herself and is still in the cutesy, ‘let finish each other’s sentences’ stage. Finally there’s Megan (Melissa McCarthy from TV’s “Mike and Molly”). Aside from some of the language, its Megan’s antics that give this movie it’s R-rating. She’s the polar opposite of pretty much everybody in the group, the type who doesn’t wear any makeup or do anything with her hair besides throwing it into a pony tail. Melissa McCarthy also steals the show in most of her scenes, as Megan is the movie’s funniest character. For example, when Helen throws a French-themed bridal shower at her mansion, the take-home treat for each guest is a puppy. Megan somehow makes off with nine. As she explains later, she may be “more of a six puppy” kind of gal.
Annie tries valiantly to keep up with Helen’s ideas and money as the two of them butt heads about what will help Lillian have the perfect wedding. After a botched trip to Vegas, and a tantrum thrown at Lillian’s shower, Annie is asked to step down as maid of honor, and not to come to the wedding at all. This of course, leads to the film’s final act where everybody makes up and is happy again.
Kristen Wiig’s characters are witty and real. The relationship between Annie and Lillian was reminiscent of the trials and tribulations of relationships we all must have with some of our oldest friends. The comedy is truly funny. Wiig’s role is bound to make her a star in the realm of fellow SNL alum Tina Fey. In fact, Wiig may have outdone Fey on her first try. Aside from the profanity and gross humor, “Bridesmaids” might have more heart and staying power than Fey’s “Mean Girls” which was her first Hollywood hit.
Though I don’t see myself popping “Bridesmaids” into the DVD player over and over on a sick, or perhaps rainy day at home, it should offer as many laughs for you in the first sitting as the reviews all say. My biggest regret is that although it’s a comedy produced by Judd Apatow, it doesn’t have the same heart and message in its final act as other movies like “Knocked Up” and “The 40 Year Old Virgin” have shown in the past. In the end, between “Bridesmaids” and “The Hangover 2”, two R-rated comedies that will dominate the box office this summer, I think it will be “Bridesmaids” that comes out on top as the better movie albeit probably not the better money-maker.
