Sunday 17 February 2013

FILM: Bridesmaids (8/10)

Why did I watch it?
Heard good things about this from friends and the missus so I gave it a go. Judd Apatow produces and he generally knows funny when he sees it.

What's it all about?
Annie (Kristen Wiig) is a single, mid-30s woman with a failed business venture behind her. She is asked by best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) to be her maid of honour but quickly finds a rival for the position in Lillian's new friend Helen (Rose Byrne). As the wedding preparations continue, Annie and Helen spar with each other while Annie struggles to overcome her past difficulties and be the perfect maid of honour.

Should you watch it?
Before seeing Bridesmaids, I genuinely thought it was just a female Hangover rip-off. Maybe that was the marketing or maybe I was being lazy. Having seen the film, the truth lies somewhere between the two. Yes, its about chaotic pre-wedding festivities, the gang intend to go to Vegas and yes, there are some moments of hilarious toilet humour, but that's about it. 

Melissa McCarthy steals most scenes she is in with her brazen vulgarity, a supporting role for which she was Oscar nominated. Prior to his appearance in Lena Durham's Girls (also produced by Apatow), Chris O'Dowd appears as a traffic officer and Matt Lucas has a cameo as Annie's landlord. After reading that Rose Byrne and Wiig ad-libbed most of the speech scene, Byrne's stock has increased in my eyes, as I would never have thought her capable of a comedy role. 

What sets Bridesmaids apart is that as well being hilarious, it's script has heart, and genuine heart, not the over the top contrived heart usually found at the end of most comedies. 

Over everything else, Bridesmaids is a showcase for Kristen Wiig's sharp co-written script and funny portrayal as the flawed and troubled maid of honour. Her inclusion in the upcoming Anchorman sequel is surely down to the success of Bridesmaids.

I would even go as far as that the girls have outdone the boys and produced a comedy better than its closest sibling, The Hangover.

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