Angela Jun 1, 2011 (edited Jun 4, 2011)
Both critical acclaim and comparisons drawn to The Hangover series led me to seeing Bridesmaids.
Like most of the movies Judd Apatow is involved in, there's a bubbling sweetness lying underneath the thick layer of profane lewdness. Bridesmaids is no different, where the focus is on Kristen Wiig's Annie, the maid of honor who's life is constantly hitting her below the belt. (And just above the tummy -- quite literally.) The comedy lies in the barrage of self-inflicted mishaps, where Annie is determined to outshine Rose Byrne's Helen, a rival bridesmaid who's richer, prettier and a threat in attempting to steal away the "best friend" status once held between Annie and the bride. (As played by Maya Rudolph.) Beyond the laughs, however, there's a stringent emotional theme -- that self-esteem and changing circumstances are weighty issues to conquer when it comes to being able to move on in life.
The cast is uniformly excellent. Wiig gets the lion's share of comedic moments, and she possesses great range here. I'm not wholly familiar with her SNL work, but from her minute expressions and facial tics to wider sweeps of exaggerated body motions, she's a blast to watch. When the more dramatic, introspective moments kick in, she ably answers the call of duty. Melissa McCarthy's Megan is front-loaded with the raunchier, more outrageous stuff; she's something like The Hangover's Alan Garner, but with a visible moral center. Byrne plays Helen's prissiness for all her worth, and Rudolph's Lillian makes the long-time buddy relationship between her and Annie feel real and believable. The only characters who get the short end of the stick is Wendi McLendon-Covey's Rita and Ellie Kemper's Becca. They've got the weakest story arcs, though their clashing views on marriage is at least interesting while it lasts. Jon Hamm, meanwhile (and you'll excuse the pun), hams it up as the sex-crazed "boyfriend with benefits" to Annie, with Chris O'Dowd offering a more meaningful relationship contrast.
As for the million dollar question as to whether or not Bridesmaids is better than The Hangover..... I'm going to say the comparison shouldn't even be made. They're only slightly thematically similar to one another, but their narrative approaches are worlds apart. There's certainly more moral fiber in this one, and with a run time uncommonly lengthy for a comedy of this nature, it does feel a bit overwrought in places. But it's a very funny film overall, and the emotive beats are just so that it transcends the "chick flick" label, making it accessible for both guys and gals alike.
