It isn't a secret that it takes time and effort to plan a wedding. The same can also be said for the art of creating humor. The jokes should have the potential to put you in stitches, and the characters should be relatable to us, even if the situations they find themselves in might not be the norm for us. Screenwriters Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo master this art form in their wedding comedy Bridesmaids. The film celebrates comedy in women and the hilarity that they can generate, and proves that they can be just as side-splittingly funny as men.
Annie (Kristen Wiig) is living a hard-knock life. She is in debt, works at a job she hates, and can't stand the roommate in her apartment. When her life-long best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) breaks the news that she's getting married, she asks Annie to be her maid of honor. Despite the heap of pressure that will come with it , she accepts. On top of creating the perfect pre-wedding events for Lillian, Annie also has to juggle competing with fellow bridesmaid Helen (Rose Byrne) who is trying to steal her position as maid of honor, as well as trying to handle her distrust in men as she starts to become smitten with a police officer (Chris O'Dowd).
Kristen Wiig is best known on television for the myriad of characters that she plays on Saturday Night Live. Her role in Bridesmaids, however, could be the one that shoots her to the status of movie-stardom. Her awkward quirkiness that we're so used to remains as comical as ever in a full-length feature as it does in a five minute skit. Since the movie diverts the attention away from the bride-to-be and focuses mainly on the maid of honor, Wiig does a marvelous job with carrying the movie. What's great about her character is that besides being the film's primary laugh-machine, she also makes the audience feel sympathy for her as she realizes that as Lillian's life is coming together, her own life is falling apart.
Alongside Wiig is a motley crew of wonderfully witty women. Maya Rudolph retains the connection she's had with Kristen on SNL, and this holds the charm of an average, everyday gal-pal relationship. The group of bridesmaids includes Wendi McLendon-Covey as a mom trapped in a boring marriage who wants to have naughty fun; Ellie Kemper as a Disney-loving girly-girl; and Melissa McCarthy as the tomboy and standout of the bridal unit, who is truly a caring friend at heart. Rose Byrne nails the prissy attitude of her character. Watching Annie and Helen compete with each other is nothing short of amusing. If Annie is the wedding cake, then Helen is the figure that goes on top. She always feels she has to overshadow Annie.
Wiig and Mumolo's screenplay thrives on the comical interactions of these women. Each of them has their own time to shine. Although there are a couple of characters who were funny enough and should have had more screen time than they did, the movie is mainly about the camaraderie between Annie and Lillian. It all concerns with whether or not they will remain friends through the changes that are happening in their lives. As the stress of being a maid of honor starts to pile on Annie, so does the hilarity. There is some gross-out humor that will make the audience cringe and laugh all at once; but thankfully, it never goes too over the top. It doesn't matter if you're a male or female viewer, Bridesmaids cordially invites everyone to this wedding.
Final grade: A-
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment