Movie Review: Bridesmaids

In the new comedy “Bridesmaids," Kristin Wiig stars as Annie, a person so down on her luck that her own mother mistakes her of hitting rock bottom long before she finally does.

She has just lost her baking business, is about to be kicked out of her apartment by her bizarre sibling roommates, and the man she is seeing (played wonderfully by Jon Hamm as a woman’s worst nightmare) is not interested in pursuing anything more with her than the occasional bedroom visit. On top of all of that, her best friend (played by Maya Rudolph) has just gotten engaged and wants to make Annie her maid of honor in the wedding.

Unfortunately, Annie finds herself incredibly jealous of Maya’s other friend, a beautiful and rich party planner named Helen (played by Rose Byrne, who has a lot of fun being slimy), who seems to be making a move toward Annie’s maid of honor duties. Also, the movie wouldn’t be called “Bridesmaids” if there were not three other women who also get caught up in the raunchy shenanigans, which involves everything from awkward sexual positions, drinking, and a very messy run-in with food poisoning.

Now, I know what a lot of you guy readers are thinking: “This sounds like a chick flick! No way am I going to see that!” I understand that thinking, but I completely disagree with it. What separates “Bridesmaids” from most romantic comedies is the talent involved, on-screen and off. The movie is produced by Judd Apatow (director of the “40 Year Old Virgin” & “Knocked Up”), whose distinct brand of raunchy humor, awkward situational comedy, and heart, is stamped all over this movie.

Also, it's directed by Paul Feig who, prior to this, had directed some television (“Arrested Development," “The Office," etc.), but his real claim to fame was co-creator of the cult favorite “Freaks & Geeks.” Feig, and Wiig as co-writer, are not afraid to let an uncomfortable situation play itself out into shocking hilarity. Yet, they also understand when to pull back on the mischief and focus on making the character real.

“Bridesmaids” also boasts an impressive cast of leading ladies, all of whom go above and beyond, especially when it comes to the hilarious no-holds-barred comedy. I have been a fan of Wiig’s for a long time (her wacky brand of humor on “SNL” has always made me laugh) and, despite only playing bit parts and supporting roles in other comedies (my favorite being her bit part in “Knocked Up”), this movie positions her as a terrific leading actress. She is funny, charismatic, and also able to be quite vulnerable in the more dramatic scenes.

Also hilarious is Melissa McCarthy who steals every scene that she’s in by playing one of the bridesmaids as a tough talking woman whose antics left my jaw on the floor! “SNL’s” Maya Rudolph is also charming and funny as the bride, as is Chris O’ Dowd who plays a nice police officer who becomes interested in Wiig’s character.

Overall, “Bridesmaids” has a lot of great laughs! It is not merely some “Bride Wars”/”Hangover” clone. Instead, it strives for a lot more than the usual mindless humor by focusing on its characters and making them all feel like believable people. It is also not really a love story about romantic relationships.

At its heart, “Bridesmaids” is a touching story about how true friendship can stand the test of time between people who, as they grow and embark down different paths, can still maintain that special bond that they always had. It is also genuinely hilarious, well cast, and quite endearing. Despite being two hours, my only complaint is that the movie does begin to feel quite long. This might have to do with the fact that certain gags tend to go on for quite awhile (although, far more of these gags hit than miss.) However, I still really enjoyed “Bridesmaids” and I cannot wait to see Kristin Wiig in her next leading role!

Movie Theater Experience

I saw "Bridesmaids" with my awesome Mom at the Marcus Oakdale theater. I've said this before, and I'll say it again: this is my favorite movie theater, hands down! The popcorn is always good, the staff is courteous, the theaters are clean, and the film projection always looks and sounds great. My Mom and I went to the 4:45 p.m. show on Sunday and I was reminded why I love seeing comedies with a packed theater audience. When everyone is laughing, it can be truly infectious. 

Check out all of my reviews at justinatkinsonsmoviereviews.blogspot.com. Have you seen "Bridesmaids" yet? If so, what did you think?