From Producer Judd Apatow, who gave us Knocked Up and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Bridesmaids brings us all the humor of The Hangover, but from the female perspective (and the substitution of stolen puppies instead of stolen babies).
Saturday Night Live’s Kristen Wiig leads the cast as Annie, a maid of honor whose life unravels as she leads her life long best friend and bride-to-be, Lillian (Maya Rudolph), and a group of bridesmaids on a journey toward matrimony.
Annie jumps at the opportunity to prove her loyalty and enthusiasm for Lillian and her big day, especially since Annie recently lost her cake shop, has a failing car and needs something to put her back on her feet. Much to the audience’s pleasure, competition arises in the form of new, prettier and wealthier friend Helen, played by Rose Byrne, who begins to connive to take over the pre-marital plans after Annie fails again and again.
One silver lining in Annie’s life is the sweet Irish cop who continues to re-emerge, though he is so right for her, she fails to notice and continues to falls back on her smoldering yet misogynistic bed buddy played by Jon Hamm. The standout supports in this film are not the men, however, but the bridesmaids.
The ladies consist of the sassy and outspoken Rita, (played by Wendy McLendon-Covey who we’ve met before as Deputy Clementine from Reno 911!), the soft-spoken naiveté Becca, played by Ellie Kemper whom you may recognize as Erin from The Office, and the shining star of the group, Megan, played by Melissa McCarthy, who also stars as Molly in the show Mike and Molly and Sookie in Gilmore Girls.
If the cast alone isn’t enough to pique your interest in seeing this film, let the smart, witty writing show why this movie is worth the time. Don’t be fooled by the title and think that this is a movie strictly for the ladies either.
The movie not only sheds light on the trials of friendship (and the innate competition there-in), but sews in a healthy amount of gross out gags, including an ill-fated dinner at Mexican Restaurant and an off-beat plane trip to Vegas involving excessive sleep aids, unwarranted interrogations and sexual advances.
I don’t mean to oversell—after all it isn’t a radical movie—but it is smart. It’s nice to see so many actresses making fun of something besides other women. The best surprise is that Bridesmaids doesn’t treat Annie’s single status as a dire character flaw: she’s simply going through a rough patch and has to figure things out, as in real life.
The movie had me engaged from the very first scene and genuinely busting a gut throughout. I would recommend this movie for both girls (and guys) nights out. I give this movie four stars.