Here come... the Bridesmaids!
Most wedding based rom-coms usually involve Kate Hudson or Katherine Heigl in a desperate search for the ‘perfect man’, with their sweet nature and beautiful looks what’s not to love eh? I’m the first to admit that I myself am a sucker for the ‘lonely girl searches prince charming’ story line. However every now and again I feel the urge to watch a rom-com that looks past cheesy gestures, chat up lines, sloppy snogs and the stereotypical heroine. Bridesmaids’ strips back the features we’d usually expect to see whilst watching a rom-com, and presents a film which is relatable and has the ability to warm hearts.
It’s not very often we see the heroine having rampant rudey time with her play mate within the opening scenes, being rude, disorganised and frankly being a hazard to society. However, despite wanting to admit to it, we can’t help but find ourselves drawn to Annie, (Kristen Wiig) the female lead in Bridesmaids. We don’t connect because we feel sorry for her, but because we can relate to her in some way. Whether it’s because you’ve felt lost in a job, lost in a friendship, or lost in your own individuality, Annie shows real emotions towards a real life love story and the true battle of friendship through challenging times.
The film centres on a group of females who have been brought together due to the arrangement of their friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) wedding. This may sound nothing out of the ordinary; however add in a mixture of bazaar personalities, huge amounts of stress and the meltdown of the maid of honour and we have ourselves a cocktail for a great film.
When Annie finds out that she’s going to be the maid of honour at her best friends wedding she is overjoyed, however, her best friend’s happiness only highlights the sheer breakdown of her own life. Annie’s life took a U turn when her baking business, in which she invested all her money, went broke; and she was forced to work at a jewellery store just so that she could afford the rent towards her tiny bed-sit she shares with two people she has little to nothing in common with. Alongside a love life that is weaker than Bridget Jones’, Annie had well and truly hit rock bottom.
Or at least she thought she had. Annie’s life is disturbed further when she is forced to compete for her friendship with Lillian against Lillian’s new friend Helen (Rose Byrne) an organised, beautiful, multi-lingual, miss perfect. As they fight to organise the bridesmaids’ party, the group of friend’s individual problems emerge and Annie tries to find her way back up the rock.
Wiig finally gets the lead role she deserves, after a few minor appearances over the years, including this years Paul. She has been introduced as the new face for rom-coms. The IT Crowd's Chris O'Dowd was the perfect casting as the very funny Mr nice guy, his charm melts the audience as his personality comes across ‘real’ and is very believable on screen.
Melissa McCarthy, who plays the role of a man hungry, food obsessed tomboy, takes the films humour to an all new level. Her dirty banter and predatory ways would have anybody in stitches laughing. She has many memorable moments within this film and I’m sure her role in this film will be hard to forget.
From start to finish Bridesmaids’ twists any assumptions of a wedding based rom-com, and vows to change your view on a female driven comedy.
Release Date: June 22nd 2011
Certificate: 15Starring: Kristen Wiig, Chris O’Dowd, Rose Byrne
Director: Paul Feig
