Bridesmaids

Do You Take This Comedy? I Do!

Director: Paul Feig

Writers: Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo

Stars: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, Chris O'Dowd

SYNOPSIS: When her best friend gets engaged, Annie is asked to be the maid of honor. Tasked with making all of the preparations, Annie must contend with the other bridesmaids, losing her best friend to marriage and the status of her own life.

Director Paul Feig of Unaccompanied Minors semi-fame returns to the big screen after directing stints on The Office and Nurse Jackie. For Bridesmaids, written by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, Feig brings Wiig and Maya Rudolph from SNL, Ellie Kemper from tv's The Office, Rose Byrne from Insidious and the upcoming X-Men: First Class, Wendi McLendon-Covey from tv's Rules of Engagement, and Melissa McCarthy from tv's Mike & Molly. What does this mean? It means that Feig may be coaching the Olympic Dream Team of female comedy. Competing with them are their male counterparts Chris O'Dowd and Jon Hamm.

The opening sequence sets the tone for the entire film. Annie (Wiig) and Ted (Jon Hamm) wrestle in bed as friends with benefits, eliciting all the hilarious sexual moves and faces that all of us normal people go through. Once Annie takes the Walk of Shame the next morning, she realizes that she may have hit the rock bottom that her mother talks about. Enter her best friend, supporter and confidant Lillian (Rudolph) who springs the news that she is getting married and wants Annie to be the maid of honor, and all that the title entails. Along the way, Lillian's collection of bridesmaids consisting of co-workers and new friends make for chatter and bridal party chaos.

The film is both funny and tender, realistic in its character portrayal, dialogue and the examination of how the humor and embarrassment of real life imitates arts which imitates life. Annie and rich second-wife of the husband-to-be Doug's boss, Helen (Rose Byrne) square off, rich versus poor, childhood friends versus new friend, vying for Lillian's affection and approval. Doug's sister Megan (Melissa McCarthy) is surprisingly limber and agile with her comedy, making no apologies. Rita (Wendi McLendon-Covey) also makes no apologies, but she simply wants to escape from a husband and three boys that try her patience and devotion. Finally, Lillian's office-mate Becca (Ellie Kemper) brings the doe-eyed optimism of that brand new marriage smell, soon realizing that the grass may not be greener on the other side of the fence, just something she never experienced.

Enter Officer Rhodes (Chris O'Dowd), the state trooper who pulls over Annie for broken tail lights and recognizes her face and the excellent bake goods and pastries from her now-closed bakery. Flirting to get out of a tickets leads to something resembling a real relationship that Annie is ill equipped to deal with. One of the funniest moments of the film occurs on a lonely stretch of highway where Annie and Helen are trying to get Officer Rhodes help. And aside from the opening number in the sack, the "flu"-ridden bridal party dress fitting is a battle of wills and a battle of plumbing. Raunchy and gross, it may bring a laughing tear to your eyes at the same time you try to look away. But like a car accident, you can't seem to look away for long.

Tears of laughter may overcome you, which is great since those tears will mask the real tears you will send in Bridesmaids. Heartfelt and funny, you will get a kick out of all the antics that go into making a perfect day, no matter what the cost!

WORTH: Matinee and DVD