5/23/2011 Bridesmaids

Bridesmaids is not a bad movie, but I really don’t think it deserves a lot of the praise it has been getting.  It is underneath the few gross out comedic moments a chick flick. 

Bridesmaids is about, obviously, from the title, a bride and her bridesmaids in the pre-wedding rituals.  The main character is Annie played by Kristen Wiig.  I’ve always enjoyed her on SNL, and she does a great job in several scenes in the movie.  I think that she is just best in small doses.  Anyway, Annie is going to be the maid of honor in her friend’s wedding played by another SNL cast member, Maya Rudolph.   Annie lives in an apartment with a very odd English couple that I still haven’t figured out why that was even included in the movie because they were just strange and not funny at all.  She doesn’t have very high self esteem when it comes to men.  She continues to see a guy (John Hamm) that treats her like a piece of meat through most of the movie.  Couldn’t believe that Hamm agreed to his role, but it was kind of funny to see him in this type role.  Annie begins to unravel because of one of the other bridesmaids, Helen, begins to take a lot of the spotlight.  Helen wants to be in control of everything and she has the money to be in control, so this drives Annie nuts.  The journey goes through the almost bachelorette party, trying on dresses, shower, and then the eventual wedding.  Annie messes every one of these events up in some sort of fashion, and everything else in her life.  She meets the perfect guy by getting pulled over by a cop for her tail light being out, and runs him off because of her insecurities.      

Bridesmaids gets 3 M&Ms out of 5. There are several hilarious parts throughout the movie but to say it is on the level of the Hangover is a far reach.  The movie began to drag a little at the end, and turns into a straight chick flick for the last 20 minutes. If it would’ve been an hour and 44 minutes instead of 2 hours and 4, it might’ve been better.  Men go see it with your girlfriends, but don’t be fooled you will be singing “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips when you walk out of theater, and get your chick flick ending.  How else would it be? 

Peter Travers Take

Roger Ebert's Take