BRIDESMAIDS (18)
Release Date: 8 September 2011
Running Time: 124 minutes
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Director: Paul Feig
Screenplay: Annie Mumolo, Kristen Wiig
Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, Chris O'Dowd
Plot: This spring, Universal Pictures and producer Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin) invite you to experience Bridesmaids. Kristen Wiig leads the cast as Annie, a maid of honor whose life unravels as she leads her best friend, Lillian (Maya Rudolph), and a group of colorful bridesmaids (Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Ellie Kemper) on a wild ride down the road to matrimony. Annie's life is a mess. But when she finds out her lifetime best friend is engaged, she simply must serve as Lillian's maid of honor. Though lovelorn and broke, Annie bluffs her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals. With one chance to get it perfect, she'll show Lillian and her bridesmaids just how far you'll go for someone you love.
Review: ‘Bridesmaids’ chicks take on ‘The Hangover’ boys for the summer crown of raunchy journey comedy title. So who wins it? It is rather pretty clear, as the distinction belongs to the girls with no objections raised. If you think you have to endure another lovey dovey pop-tard, you may have to think it twice now. ‘Bridesmaids’ is not your average chick flick; rather it infuses a new dimension that no other chick flick has seen before. Then it does it with style, elegance and attitude. Producer Judd Apatow hasn’t really been in maestro-mode he used to be but he can add this into the same level as ‘The 40 Year –Old Virgin’ and ‘Knocked Up’.
‘Bridesmaids’ follows the life of Annie (Kristen Wiig) who is a single woman in her mid-30s, living in Milwaikee, Wisconsin. She thought she may have seen it all the troubles in her life but isn’t prepare for what is going to happen. Annie recently lost her bakery business, lost her boyfriend and lost all her penny savings. Her mother (late Jill Clayburgh) convinces her to return home but she decides to reluctantly work in a jewelry store and rents a room from the weird siblings Gil (Matt Lucas) and Brynn (Rebel Wilson). She also has a sexual relationship with the narcissistic and pretty annoying Ted (Jon Hamm) but realized that their relationship will not go beyond the bed.
One day, her best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) becomes engaged to a wealthy banker (Tim Heidecker) in Chicago. Lillian asks Annie to become her maid of honor and introduces her to the fellow bridesmaids comprising Lillian’s cynical cousin Rita (Wendi McLendon-Covey), idealistic Becca (Ellie Kemper), mouth-fouled future sister-in-law Megan (Melissa McCarthy) and the vain wife Helen (Rose Bryne). As they prepare for Lillian’s wedding, it becomes very apparent that Annie and Helen are rivalry, attempting to get the approval of the bride. As they inch closer to the wedding day, things get a little complicated and messy. Can the girls make it through?
With ‘The Hangover Part 2’ been a harsh recycle of comedy trip that ends up been disappointing, ‘Bridesmaids’ offers something different but at the same level of raunchiness. It is not a complete revolutionary but it does raise the bar of raunchy comedy to a new level. The credits I say must go to ‘Saturday Night Love’ alumni Kristen Wiig (McGruber) and her fellow comedian cum writer Annie Mumolo, who did a good job scripting this great screenplay. It is brilliant, genuinely felt and well-developed, full of fouled-mouth dialogues and obscene images that seem to be as good as any other male writers too. Now we know that girls can make a raunchy film like the male counterparts too. What‘s so unique about this movie is that it is relatively smarter and more believable than any other standard chick flick. No dumb teenage blonde running around for the attention of the man, similarly no woman develops obsession towards her stalker who turns out to be ‘not human’.
The girls of ‘Bridesmaids’ are not only ceremoniously become sworn-sisters, reluctant and excited to; but they utter tonnes of dirty jokes and make ridiculous stuffs effectively, together. The story allows enough room for each character in this large casting to develop. There are plenty of conflicts to catch, cat fights to enjoy and the characters to personalize. My thought is, I love this kind of comedy that offers many good characters to follow, adventurous road trip that takes you into the wildness and seeing people doing laughable things. Hey, that sounds like ‘The Hangover Part II’ but this female version of that less charmer version of the dude is executed well, thanks to Paul Feig who directs it with calm and focus. Not only ‘Bridesmaids’ does touch rom-com and raunchy comedy like others, but also blends in gross particulars along with it so well. I like how the movie makes me feel and I like the way it is made.
This comedy comes with plenty of style and plenty of elegance, subtle attitude to reflect woman’s persona in another aspect and stuffs they try to overcome during their mid-30s. Wiig’s vast comedic experiences from ‘Saturday Night Live’ help to bring the movie into its own. She is brilliant in her own shoes, portraying a role about a misfortune woman perfectly and makes us feel empathy with compassion for her. Her troubles do not bother her at all. When she is with the group of fellow bridesmaids, she transforms into a lucid companion, while at times also does some ridiculous stuffs.
It is also rather amazing to acknowledge that all the other girls in the bridesmaids-gang are also a brilliant comedian of their own – both in small and large screens. Melissa McCarthy (from Mike & Molly) does a great job bringing the role of Megan, for which she ultimately just knocks off the annoying Zach Galifianakis. Wendi McLendon-Covey is pretty cynical as Rita, who wants a getaway from her ‘semen’ house while Ellie Kemper’s (The Office) role as the ‘always smiling’ Becca and Rose Bryne’s Helen are great addition that showers the movie with lots of chemistry.
The movie may not have any big stars from both genders to anchor it but it certainly a good comedy as its product. Not only ‘Bridesmaids’ has officially knocked off the boys of ‘The Hangover’, it has become one of the comedies of the year. No barred holds just like ‘Horrible Bosses’, which also a brilliant and lucid raunchy comedy is the perfect ingredient for success. ‘Bridesmaids’ is a great comedy that appeals to both male and female as the insanity will not just stop just because they are chicks. It is fearless, raunchy, has heart at best, character-dynamic and smart; all thanks to a brilliant screenplay and direction.
THE RATING:
Story: 4.0
Casts: 4.0
Cinematography: 4.0
Effects: 3.5
GREEN-TEA-O-METER: 15.8/20.0
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