On an initial look at Bridesmaids, the comparisons seem clear. "It's the female version of The Hangover!", I'm sure many a lazy reviewer will write and as usual with the comparison game, it's quite a bit off the mark.
Kristen Wiig (who also co-wrote the film along with first-time movie scribe Annie Mumolo) stars as Annie, seemingly suffering an early mid life crisis that already includes a sex only relationship with massive sleazebag Ted (played with relish by an uncredited Jon Hamm), a room mate (Matt Lucas) who has moved his horrendous sister (Rebel Wilson)in without even asking, and a oddball Mother (Jill Clayburgh) who attends AA meetings even though she's never touched a drop. This is all worsened by the news her best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) is getting married and wants her to be the maid of honour.
What seems like a great (no pun intended) honour is soon diminished after meeting Lillian's other close friend Helen (Rose Byrne) who is a bit overbearing to put it mildly. Things soon go from bad to worse at engagement parties, bachelorette parties, dress fittings and bridal showers as Annie looks set to totally unravel.
It's all an engaging enough premise, and there are some great performances all around. In particular Melissa McCarthy as the butch bridesmaid Megan is a great comedy creation, and pretty much steals every scene she is in. I was slightly less sure about Matt Lucas' presence in the film, and bar his first appearance doesn't really add anything. Likewise was The IT Crowd's Chris O' Dowd as Annie's new love interest Nathan Rhodes, seemingly the only police officer in the all of Milwaukee.
The main problem I had with the film was it never really settled on what it wanted to be. One minute we have some Hangover-like tastelessness in a hilarious dress fitting scene which ends in all manner of bodily fluids flying. Then there's the Larry David style cringe worthy stuff, the greatest example of which is probably the best scene in the film for me, an excruciating microphone war between Annie and Helen.
Then the entire last act in the film is a heart warming story of true friendship, complete with sing-a-longs and puppies in bow ties. Everything seems completely at odds with everything else in the film. Don't get me wrong, everything is enjoyable enough, it all just clashed too much for this reviewers taste. If you must have a Hangover comparison - at least that stayed pretty tasteless throughout, whereas Bridesmaids flits between comedy styles way too much.
And while the film creeps very close to that "to long for a comedy" running time at 125 minutes, it's great to see Kristen Wiig finally get a top billing film that will do well. I enjoyed her work in Macgruber and The Brothers Solomon (even if other critics mauled the films), and I hope she will enjoy the success reached by her fellow Saturday Night Live alumni Tina Fey. Just stick to a style next time!
***
Legitimately funny throughout, but there are too many different styles of comedy in the mix and a few characters that just don't work. If you can get past that, you'll get a lot of enjoyment out of Bridesmaids.
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