Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne
Director: Paul Feig
Rating: 4/5
Bridesmaids is the latest film with a production credit from Judd Apatow, but it’s the first for a predominantly female audience.
Kristen Wiig (who you’ll recognise from Saturday Night Live) is the star at the centre of the film, both co-writing and as the lead and in her first lead role, she easily carries the film which centres on her character Annie.
The film, directed by Paul Feig, follows Annie as she is given the task of being Maid of Honour to (Saturday Night Live co-star) Maya Rudolph’s Lillian when she gets engaged. Broadly, Bridesmaids is about Annie’s trials and tribulations as she organises everything from the bridal shower, to the bachelorette party, but also about her own troubles, whether they be work or men.
An extremely strong supporting cast along with a script which feels natural lift this film above any other rom-com you’ll see this year.
It takes the best points of other Judd Apatow films, the loosely scripted dialogue, the gross-out humour, and it gives it to a group of women who are modern, care-free and most of all, don’t feel cut out from a rom-com template.
Kristen Wiig feels similar to Tina Fey, in the respect that she doesn’t seem to care what people might think, she’s unafraid to swear, pull faces and be ‘weird’. Frankly, it’s refreshing.
Maya Rudolph has a bit more sensibility, but the chemistry between the two makes for some of the simpler, but some of the best scenes.
The rest of the bridesmaids are a well-rounded, if not underdeveloped bunch. However, with six characters, they were right not to delve too deep into backstories and personalities.
There’s the ‘villain’ in the form of Rose Byrne’s Helen, the new best friend of Lillian, who is everything Annie isn’t, wealthy, successful, and socially high on the food chain. Then there’s the shy Becca, the wannabe party animal Rita and then finally, there’s Megan, the tomboy of the group, who steals most of the scenes.
Bridesmaids isn’t without its crudeness, the trailer shows off most of these, and in the film, you won’t be disappointed and most people have called this a female version of The Hangover which is understandable, but this is a very different film to that.
The crude humour isn’t too over the top, but it does provide some very funny moments, whether those be an ill-fated dress-fitting, or an eventful flight to Las Vegas.
Although Bridesmaids is a chick flick, this is the chick flick that boyfriends should be happy to go along to.
It doesn’t give men a bad name, it’s not overly girly, in fact it’s quite sympathetic, especially towards the nice guy Chris O’Dowd. O’Dowd plays the love interest of Wiig’s Annie, a police officer, who she meets while driving with her brake lights out.
It’s between him and Jon Hamm’s cocky and casual playboy. Both of whom are on top form here.
Clearly, the film is relying on heavy word-of-mouth, as it doesn’t star any stand-out A-listers, but strong performances and a brilliant script make this one of the best comedies you’ll find all summer.
Bridesmaids is released 24th June
FemaleFirst James Butlin
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