Bridesmaids Review: Clever And Witty… And Not At All Like The Trailer

By now you’ve seen the trailer for Bridesmaids where reporters are quoted saying it’s the best comedy of 2011. Then you see the rest of the trailer… and you’re probably thinking really?

I attended a screening for Bridesmaids last month and I walked expecting SNL-style Kristen Wiig humor. My expectations were low for this chick flick. My feelings when I left were a complete 180. It is the funniest movie so far in 2011, and it’s a movie that your boyfriend will enjoy too – if you can talk him into going.

The true comedic gems in the movie are not shown in theatrical trailer which is full of seemingly girly moments and potty humor. This is why many people will automatically write off this film as an extension of SNL. But producer Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, Superbad) and director Paul Feig (creator of the cult favorite Freaks And Geeks) know exactly what they’re doing. Whoever made the trailer did not.

Kristen Wiig plays the lead, a woman named Annie who has been given the honor of being the maid of honor in her best friend Lillian’s (Maya Rudolph) wedding. Life seems to be slowly falling apart for Annie – from losing her business to obtaining and losing a backup job to moving back in with her mother to dating a true Draper (Draper is now a word I use interchangeably for a**hole after watching Mad Men – this works on multiple levels considering it is actually Jon Hamm in this role as well).

Lillain’s bridesmaids aren’t exactly the greatest bunch. Helen (Rose Byrne) wants to take control of everything and take it over the top with decadence. Something that Annie can’t exactly afford. A rivalry quickly develops between the two which becomes a non-stop and sometimes painful laugh source for the moviegoer. Ellie Kemper (The Office), Melissa McCarthy (Gilmore Girls, Mike And Molly – though you probably won’t recognize her at first), and Wendi McLendon-Covey round out the bridesmaids.

One of the best parts of the film is the budding romance between Annie and Rhodes (Chris O’Dowd) – a cop which Annie manages to woo despite the fact that he pulled her over. Rhodes isn’t like the normal Drapers she dates. Best moment in the movie? A car scene where Annie tries to gets Rhodes’ attention – that’s all I’ll say!

All in all, it’s a clever and witty script backed up by a fantastic cast who really bring it to life. Don’t write it off because of the elementary style humor in the trailer – it will be, without question, one of the best comedies of the year. And it’s safe bet you’ll leave the theaters with a smile on your face repeating one of the many charmingly cute one-liners you heard.

Grade: A+
Official Site: http://www.bridesmaidsmovie.com/

Bridesmaids Review By: Emma Loggins