Going into Bridesmaids I longed for the best but feared for the worst. While I knew the film had to be funny, I worried that the jokes would only be relatable to women who had undergone a treacherous wedding-planning fiasco. As a male, I had reason for my doubts.
But unlike any other comedy this year Bridesmaids breaks down the barrier between the sexes, giving fans a flawless cast that keeps the laughs coming, even when the story becomes a little too cliche for its own good.
It goes without saying that Kristen Wiig is the heart and soul of this film. Picked to be her best friend's maid of honor, Wiig's Annie tries hard to play the part, bluffing her way through the rituals, always competing with relative newcomer Helen for the attention of the bride to be. Tempers flare and drama escalates to such a level that you can't help but sit back and laugh at the irony of everything that is happening.
While most slapstick comedies find themselves at the mercy of...well, themselves, Bridesmaids is able to be so shocking and unexpected that it actually works. Granted much of this is accomplished by the mere fact that everything is happening to a group of women, but nonetheless, I can't remember the last time I laughed so much.
Wiig does a brilliant job at creating Annie, but it is her chemistry with her fellow bridesmaids that makes the film so fun. Whether it be the puppy dog goodie bags, the food poisoning epidemic or the bachelorette party road trip gone wrong, there is something for everyone in this all too ironic tale of a (kinda) perfect wedding.
