"Bridesmaids"-- making every disastrous nuptials you've ever participated in seem like The Royal Wedding.
"Bridesmaids": thank God I was never considered a good one.
Back in 'the day'... you know, that time right after college when most of your friends panic and get married to the nearest warm body who they enjoyed 'A Phantom Menace' with... I was never asked to be in anyone's wedding. "You're not the bridesmaid type" I was told, and I was thankful for it. Apparently, my love of football and wearing sweats to class disqualified me from dress shopping and over exuberant bachelorette parties.
Well, though I have been a part of a few set of nuptials since, 'Bridesmaids' will give those of you who have not a very gruesome, over-the-top yet REAL view of what really happens. First-- the jealous reaction between the "oldest best friend" and the "newest best friend"; second-- the HORRIFIC dresses and third-- the ridiculous, stress filled parties. Okay, where to begin?
"Bridesmaids" is, in a word, vulgar. VULGAR. if you have a problem with that kind of movie-- don't see it. Just save yourself time and money... even if it's free, don't bother... don't even bother reading my review, you'll probably be offended with my recap.
But if that DOESN'T bother you... well, let's chat:
Kristen Wiig made me love her the first time I saw her on SNL doing movie reviews. The way she pronounced "Mel Gibson's Apaclypto--" made me laugh so hard I knew she'd be one to contend with on the comic scene for years to come. Her first feature lead did not disappoint.
This is, in short, the Kristen Wiig show. By that I don't mean that she is the funniest person always or that she hogs all the dialogue-- but it seems a tutorial in her sense of humor, and though there are many obscene moment, there are also many moments which are so awkward and hilarious, one can only assume that she herself has been in them many times.
AWKWARD. That is a good way to describe scene after scene in this film.
So, to the plot. Kristen plays Annie Walker, who is down on her luck. Her dream job as a small business owner of her own pastry shop has just fizzled, she lives with two delinquent Aussies, her 'boyfriend' is not only a cad; he terrible in bed-- (awkward first scene alert), and to top it off her best friend, who until this point she has commiserated with, is about to get married.
But it gets worse-- Lillian (played by Maya Rudolph) has a new first class bestie Helen Harris (perfectly portrayed by Rose Byrne) and a life of seeming luxury awaiting her. Annie is asked to be the maid-of-honor, but every decision she tries to make is undermined by Helen. The cast of misfits is rounded out by Melissa McCarthy as the would-be sister in law, Ellie Kemper (leaving the reception desk on 'The Office') as the friend of a friend newlywed and Wendi McLendon-Covey, the desperate housewife of the crew.
Together the group goes through a series of mis-adventures from bad Brasilian food before dress fittings to a plane ride straight out of SNL (but it works!); until Annie nearly destroys her friendship with Lillian. If only "Wilson Phillips" could show up and save the day... somehow I think they could.
Through the vignettes the obligatory new man arriving as Officer Nathan Rhodes, played by Chris O'Dowd, is introduced to Annie. She, of course, screws that up too; but to comedic effect as always.
Overall if you can get past the bawdy nature of "Bridesmaids" you will enjoy yourself (because, of course, in the end it all somehow works-- Annie gets the guy, makes up with Lillian AND Helen and we get to laugh our way through the credits) ; but if bathroom humor and awkward sex scenes only make you cringe-- STAY AWAY-- because we all know we get enough of that after the vows are long since spoken...
ZING!
Back in 'the day'... you know, that time right after college when most of your friends panic and get married to the nearest warm body who they enjoyed 'A Phantom Menace' with... I was never asked to be in anyone's wedding. "You're not the bridesmaid type" I was told, and I was thankful for it. Apparently, my love of football and wearing sweats to class disqualified me from dress shopping and over exuberant bachelorette parties.
Well, though I have been a part of a few set of nuptials since, 'Bridesmaids' will give those of you who have not a very gruesome, over-the-top yet REAL view of what really happens. First-- the jealous reaction between the "oldest best friend" and the "newest best friend"; second-- the HORRIFIC dresses and third-- the ridiculous, stress filled parties. Okay, where to begin?
"Bridesmaids" is, in a word, vulgar. VULGAR. if you have a problem with that kind of movie-- don't see it. Just save yourself time and money... even if it's free, don't bother... don't even bother reading my review, you'll probably be offended with my recap.
But if that DOESN'T bother you... well, let's chat:
Kristen Wiig made me love her the first time I saw her on SNL doing movie reviews. The way she pronounced "Mel Gibson's Apaclypto--" made me laugh so hard I knew she'd be one to contend with on the comic scene for years to come. Her first feature lead did not disappoint.
This is, in short, the Kristen Wiig show. By that I don't mean that she is the funniest person always or that she hogs all the dialogue-- but it seems a tutorial in her sense of humor, and though there are many obscene moment, there are also many moments which are so awkward and hilarious, one can only assume that she herself has been in them many times.
AWKWARD. That is a good way to describe scene after scene in this film.
So, to the plot. Kristen plays Annie Walker, who is down on her luck. Her dream job as a small business owner of her own pastry shop has just fizzled, she lives with two delinquent Aussies, her 'boyfriend' is not only a cad; he terrible in bed-- (awkward first scene alert), and to top it off her best friend, who until this point she has commiserated with, is about to get married.
But it gets worse-- Lillian (played by Maya Rudolph) has a new first class bestie Helen Harris (perfectly portrayed by Rose Byrne) and a life of seeming luxury awaiting her. Annie is asked to be the maid-of-honor, but every decision she tries to make is undermined by Helen. The cast of misfits is rounded out by Melissa McCarthy as the would-be sister in law, Ellie Kemper (leaving the reception desk on 'The Office') as the friend of a friend newlywed and Wendi McLendon-Covey, the desperate housewife of the crew.
Together the group goes through a series of mis-adventures from bad Brasilian food before dress fittings to a plane ride straight out of SNL (but it works!); until Annie nearly destroys her friendship with Lillian. If only "Wilson Phillips" could show up and save the day... somehow I think they could.
Through the vignettes the obligatory new man arriving as Officer Nathan Rhodes, played by Chris O'Dowd, is introduced to Annie. She, of course, screws that up too; but to comedic effect as always.
Overall if you can get past the bawdy nature of "Bridesmaids" you will enjoy yourself (because, of course, in the end it all somehow works-- Annie gets the guy, makes up with Lillian AND Helen and we get to laugh our way through the credits) ; but if bathroom humor and awkward sex scenes only make you cringe-- STAY AWAY-- because we all know we get enough of that after the vows are long since spoken...
ZING!
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