When Bridesmaids was first released, I heard lots of grumbles that it was the female take on The Hangover, that would never quite hit the same mark. Whoever grumbled that, cannot have watched Bridesmaids as, apart from being just as hilarious, it is nothing like The Hangover. Bridesmaids at its heart is a rom-com, but provides an astute, funny and insightful opening into the highs and lows that women face when asked to be a thirty-something year old bridesmaid.
The opening scene introduces us to Annie Walker (played by Kristen Wiig who also doubles up as co-writer) during her rendezvous with fuckbuddy Ted who directs her to “Cup my balls!” and then later says “Wow, this is so awkward. I really want you to leave, but I don’t know how to say it without sounding like a dick.”
That is just the tip of the mess that is Annie’s life. She’s on her way to rock-bottom so when her best friend and confidant Lillian (Maya Rudolph) announces that she’s engaged, and Annie is maid of honour, you know that things can only get worse! We see the total range of emotions that traverse through Annie’s face in that moment;
“I’m really happy for my friend”
“Will I ever meet a man who wants to marry me?”
“Things are going to change between us.”
“I don’t have any money to arrange the bachelorette party.”
“Will I ever meet a man who wants to marry me?”
“No, I’m really happy for my friend, I’ll do whatever it takes to make her day special.”
The engagement party follows where Annie is introduced to each of the other bridesmaids. The beautiful, perfect and filthy rich Helen (Rose Byrne), her soon to be nemesis as they vie for Lillian’s affections for bestest friend in the whole world. Newly wed Becca (Ellie Kemper) who hasn’t experienced much but pointedly marks out Annie’s singledom. Mother of three sons Rita (Wendi McLendon-Covey) who just wants a break from her horny husband and Megan (Melissa McCarthy of Mike and Molly fame) who is a total bulldog oblivious to everything and is also sister of the groom.
The following scenes that ensue are filled with rib-hurting laughs and tender moments as Annie goes on a roller coaster to prove her worth as a good friend to Lillian and make sure Helen doesn’t take the top spot. When Annie arranges a meal to an off the beaten track Brazilian restaurant before a dress fitting, which ends in an all white boutique in terrible danger of browning from bodily emissions, we are ultimately left feeling nothing but pathos for this down and out woman who can’t seem to get nothing right.
Her attempts to arrange a budget minded bacholerette party at Lillian’s parents Lake House back-fire as Helen plants the Vegas seed in the other bridesmaids minds. Eventually Annie after multiple disastrous events is faced with being dis-honoured as the maid of honour and ends up going off her rocker at the bridal shower where her original ideas for a Parisian themed event are stolen by Helen.
In the midst of all this debacle, Annie has won the heart of Irish policeman Nathan Rhodes, played by Chris O’Dowd. He’s not as cool as Ted, but certainly more of a gentleman and definitely not a dick, but Annie seems to be put off by this.
This is an all-round feel good movie that ends in typical dreams do come true fashion. Wiig is brilliant as the endearing, all over the place woman who needs some stability and direction in her life. She’s charming but not to the point that we get sick of her and she envokes enough chuckles to maintain our interest in seeing her come out of this phase triumphantly!
If you’re about to get married, watch this with your bridesmaids to have a laugh and remember what weddings are all about! If you’re not, then just watch it for the laughs and female interactions!
Bridesmaids is out on DVD & blu-ray 14th November 2011.
Director: Paul Feig
Writers: Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo
Stars: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne
Runtime: 125 min
Country: USA
Film Rating: 
