Bridesmaids Review
By: T.J. “You’re really doing it. You’re shitting in the street” Mulligan
Ah, the “chick flick.” It is a dreaded term that, once uttered in reference to a film, can cause a large chunk of the potential audience to immediately turn the other way. It’s a defining case of cinematic prejudice but, really, can you blame those who commit it? Most chick flicks are generic, cookie-cutter copies of the same formula played out in a similar manner with nothing redeeming in between. Films of this ilk usually come with empowering messages for women - never giving up on your dreams, the power of love/friendship, reassurance in the potential inherent in every individual - but they are often lost in the materialistic, self-absorbed and caricatured ways in which the characters are portrayed or the unrealistic setting and plot. The positive impact of the messages are lost and the critical mass is either bored to the point of disinterest or angry that yet another movie has failed to capture and portray women on screen, reinforcing the negative stereotype once more. But like any subgenre there are standouts that get it right. Bridesmaids is the newest film that attempts to buck tradition and, as a tagline for the film states, prove that “chick flicks don’t have to suck.”
Bridesmaids is about Annie (Kristin Wiig), a woman who has definitely seen better days. She has witnessed her bakery business fall apart, been left jilted by an ex, and now spends most her time either at the job she hates in her apartment with her obnoxious and prying roommates or with Ted (Jon Hamm), her fuck buddy that usually leaves her with less self-confidence than before. Her only real form of emotional stability comes from Lillian (Mia Rudolph), her best friend since childhood. When Lillian informs Annie that she is getting married and requests that she be her maid of honor, Annie is thrust into a role she is unsure if she can handle. Annie must now lead a motley crew of bridesmaids through the rigors of wedding planning, provide emotional support for Lillian and fend of the butting-in of Helen (Rose Byrne), one of the bridesmaids who continuously attempts to weasel her way into the maid of honor spot, all while trying to pull her life out of the tailspin it seems to be stuck in.
If my job is to provide reasons why those who wouldn’t otherwise see this type of movie should, then I give you 3: Judd Apatow, Paul Feig and Kristin Wiig. Most people by now know who Judd Apatow is, but aside from being the writer and director of some of this decades best comedies he’s also a producer for more, including Bridesmaids. Director Paul Feig is the creator of the fantastic short-lived television series Freaks and Geeks. Those who haven’t seen it should and those that have know that he is brilliant at portraying characters with an honest-yet-sensitive eye, a perfect combination necessary to pull off this type of movie. Of course Kristin Wiig stars in the film but she also co-wrote it (along with Annie Mumolo). Wiig has been one of the driving forces keeping Saturday Night Live relevant and hilarious in the recent past so she comes to this film with a proven track record of bringing the funny - which is just what this movie does.
The movie was fixed with an “R” rating and works hard to earn it, complete with plenty of foul language (watching an grown woman call a 13-year old girl a “cunt” will never get old) and some good old-fashioned raunch (see my tagline above and use your imagination). Through all of its bawdy humor, however, the film retains the heart (and some of the cheese, specifically toward the end) that is generally associated with chick filcks. There is a romantic storyline involving Annie that is heartfelt and entertaining, but it takes a backseat to the buddy story of Annie and Lillian both thematically and with the onscreen chemistry. The scenes between Wiig and Rudolph come across so naturally that it feels like Feig just kept the camera rolling while they just had a humorous conversation (which actually might partly be the case).
The biggest problem I have with the film is that it has the star power of an ensemble feature but the story of a starring vehicle for Wiig. While it still works thoroughly well, there are an array of talented comedic performers in the film that are given little to no dialogue. Small gripe? Maybe, but, for me, it’s a wealth of talent gone to waste. However I can say that if I were to make a movie and my biggest fault was having too many good people in a film, I’d say I did my job pretty well.
I give Bridesmaids 4 bridal shower gift puppies out of 5.
