Movie Review: Bridesmaids

When you think "raunchy comedy about pre-wedding shenanigans starring a group of thirty-somethings", you probably think The Hangover. Producer Judd Apatow and writer/actress Kristen Wiig are trying to change that this summer with their release of Bridesmaids, which attacks the institution of engagement jitters from the female perspective (with no less bluntness, however).

What's great about Bridesmaids is that it takes the comparison to The Hangover, thanks you kindly for being held in such esteemed company, and throws that formula out of the window. Gags for the sake of gags are less prevalent, instead converting the frustration of competition between women or the lack of personal identity into truly hilarious and slightly awkward scenes. It's through this alchemy-like process that a degree of emotional investment can actually be built up, whereas a strategy of highest jokes-per-minute (JPM) keeps the "life lesson" aspect of a film limited to some bro-y, drunken proclamation of the value of friendship.

Beyond this film's unique approach to comedy, the all-star cast of characters that simply overflow from it does a great job from start to finish. Several of the core cast members are known quantities from productions like Saturday Night Live, The Office, The IT Crowd, and Reno 911, though a handful seemingly came out of nowhere to really surprise me. Rose Byrne found a seriously fantastic sense of humor in this film, playing the counterpoint to Kristen Wiig's protagonist by being the ultimate rich girl party planner who tries to sweep away all of the attention and praise. Mad Men star Jon Hamm proves his acting chops yet again (after his quite serious role as an FBI agent in The Town) as Wiig's "casual" sex buddy who has absolutely no regard for anybody but himself.

Bridesmaids really blew the doors off of the summer comedy circuit, establishing a difficult target for any other film to hit. When a cinematic experience keeps you laughing so hard and so consistently that you can barely finish half of your exorbitantly priced popcorn and soda, it's clear that the movie was a complete success.