Bridesmaids: A Raunchy Comedy That Breaks the Mold
This is a hilariously outrageous and unapologetically crude comedy, especially considering it’s penned by a woman writing about a wedding.
Annie’s life is a mess. Her roommate is squeezing her for rent, her boss demands she smiles more convincingly, and her casual lover subtly hints she shouldn’t stay the night. When her best friend Lillian announces her engagement and asks Annie to be her maid of honor, it stirs up a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. To make matters worse, Annie finds herself in a fierce competition with Lillian’s future husband’s wealthy and impeccably stylish boss for the coveted role of head wedding planner.
While the original title is “Bridesmaids,” the localized title, “Bachelorette Party in Vegas” (though they never actually make it to Vegas, getting kicked off the plane for drunken antics), is arguably more descriptive of the film’s comedic tone. In some ways, “Bridesmaids” even outdoes “The Hangover Part II” (2011), emerging as a female-driven take on the classic Apatow-style comedy (Apatow himself serves as a producer here). And by “female-driven,” I mean it’s packed with women, not a watered-down, pink-packaged version of the genre.
The Woman Behind the Mayhem
“Bridesmaids” is the brainchild of Kristen Wiig, who not only stars in the lead role but also co-wrote the screenplay. Her performance has sparked buzz among American critics, hailing her as a new comedic force. The exact inspiration behind the 37-year-old actress’s solo venture remains a mystery, but whatever it is, let it continue! Wiig and her co-writer Annie Mumolo have crafted such uproarious scenes that it’s clear Diablo Cody’s legacy lives on, ready to unleash not just a “mother of all bombs” but also gestures far more obscene.
Wiig doesn’t hold back with her humor (the food poisoning scene is so repulsive it could make Apatow himself blush), but she doesn’t stray too far from familiar rom-com territory. “Bridesmaids” is essentially a story about a down-on-her-luck Bridget Jones who gets caught up in a “Bride Wars” (2009)-esque scenario, with echoes of the more recent “You Again.”
More Than Just a Rom-Com
It’s fairly obvious from the start that Annie will eventually find the right guy, reconcile with her best friend, and put her successful rival in her place. However, the palpable melancholy in Wiig’s eyes, as she inflicts far more conscious torment on her character than the writers of those other films, lends a greater sense of authenticity to the story. Kristen Wiig knows life, and she knows how to laugh at it.