Review: Bridesmaids

Wiig and company delivered a truly funny and touching movie with the rare all-female lead cast.(Universal Pictures/aceshowbiz.com)

I thought for a while about this one: what was the last movie that was a critical and box office success that featured two female writers and all females as the lead roles? Granted I didn’t spend hours pondering the answer, but the best I could come up with was Tina Fey’s Baby Mama – and that was three years ago. Fact is, this kind of thing doesn’t come around that often, and when it does, it’s hardly ever decent. And I’ll be the first to admit, even with the fact that Judd Apatow was producing, I wasn’t eager to see it based on early word and previews. But this one proved me wrong in so many ways, and had laughs and heart from start to finish.

There’s one person I have to gush about, and that would be co-writer and lead star Kristen Wiig. But, I wanted to just go down the list of things that went so surprisingly right in this movie. Jon Hamm played the role of douchebag so well, and I suggest you get on over to funnyordie.com to check out his outtakes too. Chris O’Dowd played the complete opposite, a funny and charming dude. Maya Rudolph, Ellie Kemper (Erin from The Office), and Rose Byrne were all good in what they were supposed to do. Wendi McLendon-Covey was just awesome as a worn-out mother of three boys (listen for the pizza ordering scene).

Melissa McCarthy was a complete scene-stealer though. From her conversation with the “air marshall” on their flight to Vegas, to the many, many sexual innuendos, she was hysterical. Wiig’s roommates were also terrific, and the list could go on and on, but it’s actually time to gush over Wiig now. Seriously…is she awesome in everything she does? If Tina Fey and Kristen Wiig are the two main female comedians out there, I would take Wiig any day if  I had to choose. Her dry, subtle sense of humor can’t be beat. She can play innocent, sweet, raunchy…all in a matter of minutes. She owned this role, and this movie, and it doesn’t hurt that she’s incredibly good-looking as well.

In the summer blockbuster months of huge action movies, over-the-top comedies, and chick flicks, this was such a welcome respite from all the other crap out there. In time, it may go down as somewhat of a game-changer for comedies – but that’s a conversation for another time. The bottom line is that Bridesmaids had great characters that you care about, hilarious sequences throughout, and genuinely touching moments too. It’s pretty rare to find that combination these days, and Wiig and company truly succeeded.

 

BRIDESMAIDS: (out of 4)

Advertisement