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Classic Film Review: Bridesmaids [2011]

I’m a very fair person, I like to think; someone who favours equality and tries to take my own biases out of deciding whether I like or dislike something… (debatable). Well, okay, moving on. When it comes to Bridesmaids, this means two things: 1) I am so happy to see women being allowed to do on screen what they do in real life and 2) I hate gross-out comedy just as much when a woman is doing it as when a man is. If it makes me cringe, I’m not going to laugh. So here is a review of Bridesmaids from someone who laughed at every bit of The Hangover that did not involve disgusting things… (beat).

Let’s talk about the good stuff: Written by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, the female characters actually sound like real women and the rivalry between down-on-her- luck Annie, whose long time best friend Lilllian is getting married, and Helen, who is new to Lillian’s life but rich, overconfident and hyperorganised. We all know someone like Helen. Rose Byrne does a great job of playing her and brings out that it’s not so much that Helen is trying to one up Annie, she’s just genuinely shocked that she isn’t running everything. Kristen Wiig as Annie her honed and perfected physical comedy- something that I love- with an excellent bit of slapstick on the plane.

If there were a film only about Annie, I’m sure it would be hilarious.

There is a large cast and the film does a great job of keeping even the side characters in the thick of things so they can add the occasional wisecrack. This includes Melissa McCarthy’s character, Megan, who a lot of people enjoy but again she doesn’t do much that isn’t cringe-worthy so I’m not much of a fan. The film does have a heart however- gaps in friendships are knitted back together, hurt feelings are soothed, secrets are confessed and there’s a happy ending! Which is pretty vital or else Annie really would be the worst Maid of Honour.

As a deliberate attempt to cross the Chick Flick with the Raunch Comedy, the film is a roaring success. It proves that just like in real life, women in films can be as vulgar, lusty, drunk, insecure and sexually frank as the men. There are also areas ripe for gross out comedy that only women can explore… I’m thinking of the bridal shop scene… I feel a little haunted by that. So, Bridesmaids… would I watch it again? Yes. Would I studiously ignore every disgusting moment? Undoubtedly.