Starring the super-cool Kristen Wiig (Whip It!, Adventureland, Flight of the Concords), Bridesmaids is a film that I wanted to like a whole bunch; mostly because I’m fond of Wiig (who co-wrote it), but also because it’s kind of great to have females starring in a Hollywood comedy that isn’t a rom-com.
Reviewers claim Bridesmaids had them ‘violently cracking up’ and ‘going back for a second viewing,’ so how could I help going in with high expectations of humourous humour AND pretty dresses?
Annie (Wiig) is in her mid-thirties, working a dead-end job following the failure of her bakery. She has an annoying flatmate, a load of debt and an unfulfilling relationship with Ted ( played by Jon Hamm, whose charisma is inexplicably diminished the moment he isn’t Don Draper). It looks like it’ll be a long road to happiness for Annie; and then along comes Officer Rhoads, to pull her over for a busted tail-light.
If you think this sounds suspiciously like the setup of a romantic comedy, you’d be right! But wait, there’s more.. Annie’s best friend is getting married! She wants Annie to be the Maid of Honour! But here is beautiful, rich Helen to compete for the title! Hi-jinx ensue.
I should know that a film getting rave reviews all over the show; a film produced by Judd Apatow, is a film I’m not going to fall in love with. I was a huge Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared fan and I think I’ll always be waiting, hoping, for him to write or produce something equally genius. Bridesmaids, sadly, is not that.
It has its highlights for sure, mostly involving Annie and rival bridesmaid Helen: ghost riding Annie’s car and giving awkwardly competitive speeches at the engagement party. But I found Paul Feig’s offbeat direction slow and jarring, the best-friendship at the heart of the film not all that friendly or hearty, and actors Chris O’Dowd (The IT Crowd), and Rose Byrne (Get Him to the Greek) underutilised.
But the biggest problem, for me, is that in trying to go in too many directions: cross boundaries and genres, break stereotypes, be romantic, comedic, dramatic, designer dresses, fart jokes, cupcakes, humorous sex and a midlife crisis, Bridesmaids ends up kind of…nowhere.
But don’t be put off – according to The New York Times the future of female-driven comedy may well depend on how well Bridesmaids performs at the box office. Kristen Wiig still rocks, I’ve had many a happy response from fellow movie-goers and there are some really cute puppies at the bridal shower.
6/10
What did you think of Bridesmaids? Who is your favourite comedic heroine of all time? Are puppies an inappropriate party favour?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUt7paKtf2s
