I went in to Bridesmaids expecting to love it. As a huge fan of Kristen Wiig (who stars and co-wrote) and the many funny, talented women in the movie, as well as director Paul Feig (Freaks and Geeks) and producer Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, Funny People), I thought: How can this possibly disappoint?

Disappoint it did not. From the opening scene—a no-holds-barred romp between the sheets with Wiig and Jon Hamm—the movie did not let up. All those chick-flick clichés, not a one was used as a fall back. You’ll hear comparisons to other R-rated comedies that aren’t afraid to go there like The Hangover, and this film definitely brings a similar level of “what could they do to top that last scene,” but mixed with the heart and sensitivity that those bromances don’t blend touch. Strip away the craziness (much of it provided by the very hilar Melissa McCarthy), and what you have is a film that’s about how important it is to have the support of female friends, whether you’re leaning on them during your wedding or during a crisis, or just laughing over Sunday brunch.


Annie gets the news that her best friend Lillian is engaged.

I don’t want to give too much of the film away as the element of surprise works in the film’s favour, however you can watch the trailer and get a feel for the tamer jokes. There is definitely a reason it’s rated R (it’s for raunch, not for romance).

The film follows Annie as she navigates the role of Maid of Honour, and her desire to give her best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) the shower and bachelorette she deserves, the one she hopes she can afford, and the needs of all the other disparate bridesmaids who have their own ideas of what’s best for Annie’s bestie. Through the lead up to the wedding you see what can go wrong with situations like trying on bridesmaids dresses that cost more than your paycheck, the stress of finding the perfect shower gift, and giving a touching speech at the engagement party. Add to that the complications in Annie’s personal life that range from hilarious to somewhat pitiful, and the movie treads the line of absurd and could-happen-to-anyone-embarrassing perfectly.


Beyond that, I want to urge you to see the movie if you’ve ever felt condescended to as a female moviegoer, that all you want is to see a film where some pretty actress complains how hard it is to find a great guy and how hard her life—that seems pretty perfect—is. That, despite the fact that this person in no way would have low self esteem in real life due to the fact she’s gorgeous, has a perfect job, and apartment we could never afford and hair we could never hope to have, somehow can’t get some smart, successful hunk to marry her.

This film does not do that. It shows just how complicated being a woman is, and how the hunk isn’t always the right choice and that the guy that is the right choice isn’t just another handsome actor that no one would see as someone you “settled for” in the real world. Beyond chick-flick romance, it doesn’t gloss over the other important parts of life that balance us out as women like, finding the perfect job isn’t always within reach, life is expensive and real girls have to pay rent on a cramped apartment, and that when life throws you curveballs, really the only way to get past them is to laugh, and laugh with your best friends.

What do you think, will you check out Bridesmaids this weekend?