Bridesmaids

   This isn't a blog about the merits of bridesmaids (though i'm sure i could probably blog about that soon), but about the highly entertaining new film, deemed as "the hangover for women".

The story is set around two childhood best friends Annie (Kristen Wiig) and Lillian (Maya Rudolph). Lillian announces that she is getting married an appoints Annie as the Maid of honour. Chaos (and much laughter ensues) as Annie organises quite catastrophic events, whilst trying to compete against fellow bridesmaid Helen (a very versatile Rose Byrne). Meanwhile, Annie's love life is a mess, her job is dire, she has no money, and her life in general is falling apart around her. The film follows Annie as she tries to be a "good" maid of honour, whilst dealing with the messy situations in her life.

This film could have gone one of two ways. It could have actually been the female version of the Hangover: extremely crude, rude, vulgar - funny yes, - but with no substance, or, it could be too whimsical and chick flick - esque, replacing the laughs with bad unrealistic sentiment. However, Bridesmaids somehow manages to create a brilliant mixture of the two. There are some genuinley gross out moments (normally involving larger than life bridesmaid Megan - Melissa McCarthy), including a scene where the girls have food posioning in a bridal shop, and cannot control their bodily functions... However, what makes this such a good film, are the laughs that you get alongside the reality of living in a recession, the laugh out loud moments that come from a really rubbish sexual relationship, and the sentimentality of friendship, and the importance it plays in this film.

All the characters are well cast and played out, but Kristen Wiig, is as always brilliant. She just seems to have a natural funniness that comes across on screen brilliantly. Chris O Dowd was also extremely enjoyable and sweet to watch, as the goofy but good guy Nathan Rhodes.

My only criticism, is that this film could have focused more on the bridesmaids and their outings, mainly because of the name of the film which implies that the focus was going to be on the group, rather than just Annie. But that really is only a tiny niggle, compared to this feel good, funny and sweet movie, that i imagine could also appeal to guys (even if they wouldn't admit it).

4/5