What's 'Bridesmaids' About? And How Funny Is It?

By Moviefone Editors Posted May 12th 2011 03:15PM

With all the buzz surrounding this weekend's female-lead comedy 'Bridesmaids,' it's probably easy to predict just what kind of comedy audiences are in store for. After all, it's produced by 'Knocked Up' and 'Superbad' impresario Judd Apatow and directed by 'Freaks and Geeks' creator Paul Feig. But what exactly is 'Bridesmaids' about -- and, after all the speculation, is 'Bridesmaids' funny?

What Is 'Bridemaids' About?
'Bridesmaids' is about Annie Walker (Kristen Wiig) a down-on-her-luck Milwaukee woman with bills piling up, a dead-end job and a lousy, asshole hook-up buddy (Jon Hamm). The one person she seems to enjoy is her best friend, Lillian (Maya Rudolph). So when Lillian gets engaged, she asks Annie to be her maid of honor.

Unfortunately, as any woman who's ever been in a wedding can tell you, being a maid of honor sucks. There's so much planning, getting to know the other bridesmaids, spending money on dresses you'll never wear again and trips you don't need. It's enough to drive a sane person crazy, but Annie is already close to being off the deep end.

Think of her as the female equivalent of Apatow's loveable slackers. She's Seth Rogen in 'Knocked Up' and Steve Carell in 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin.' She's a woman-child and 'Bridesmaids' is the hilarious tale of how she finally grows up.

Is 'Bridesmaids' Funny?
Though it looks like an ensemble comedy, 'Bridesmaids' actually only has a few scenes with all of the women in the advertisements, which is disappointing considering when they're all together the dynamic creates some of the funniest scenes in the movie.

Melissa McCarthy ('Gilmore Girls') steals the show as the rough-around-the-edges Meghan, but each of the characters has her own enjoyable weirdness. Even non-comedian Rose Byrne (who is actually in way more of the film than any of the comedic actresses except Wiig) has her endearingly funny moments. But for a comedy, her role is way bigger than the ads let on.

The best scene with all the bridesmaids takes place on the plane ride to Las Vegas. In it, each of their quirky, weird personalities gets to shine on its own, and Kristen Wiig does what she does best, only not in an annoying way. She actually shows why 'Saturday Night Live' audiences first fell in love her in a few shameless, balls-out hilarious scenes. (Not including the one on the airplane, Wiig loses her mind in a scene during Lillian's bridal shower, too.)

A sequel could be made solely about what happens between Ellie Kemper's Becca and Wendi McLendon-Covey's Rita.

If the whole movie was just like the scene on the airplane, 'Bridesmaids' would have been perfect. But instead, it's only near perfect.

'Bridesmaids' is funny and it's way above the usual romantic comedy fare. It's about a wayward slacker finding her way and the weirdo friends she acquires along the way. It's not just for chicks and it's not "a chick-flick for dudes" either.

It's a comedy about needing to grow up.

Written by Gaby Dunn at Moviefone

Tags: Bridesmaids, Kristen Wiig

Comments

(7)

Thursday 12 May

By philigan

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Melissa McCarthy is much better known for Mike & Molly. I've never heard of her before she starred in M&M. Do some research!

By what?

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Gilmore Girls was on forever and still in syndication. Melissa McCarthy played Sookie and was a HUGE part of the main cast as Lorelei's best friend. Mike and Molly is a very NEW program. The writer did her research.

I am looking forward to this movie.

By cac006006

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I hope this movie is better than it looks in previews.

Sorry, but I never heard of her before. I never watched the Gilmore Girls. I would go to this movie and recognize her only from M&M. No big deal. I wouldn't go see this movie anyway. Sorry also writer.

Friday 13 May

By Paula

Who wrote this, a 12-year old? The language is 'way' immature.

Sunday 15 May

By sharon

OMG saw this movie tonight and I laughed so hard I cried. Its very raunchy and should not be seen by minor children. The best movie I have seen in yrs

Tuesday 17 May

By LOIS

SO FUNNY......makes you laugh out loud!!!
Jacksonville, Fl.

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