FILM REVIEW : BRIDESMAIDS

Cupcakes. A wedding. Romance. Friendship.Labrador puppies. Throw them all together, sprinkle with a few sexy scenes and broken hearts, and what have you got? A generic chick flick, no different from the hundreds of sickeningly sweet ones made before. Let's just say from the trailer of Judd Apatow's new movie I wasn't left with very high hopes. I sat in the cinema, sat next to my mother (could be awkward during the juicy bits) and my sister (not so awkward) surrounded by giggling groups of middled aged woman and begrudging boyfriends who had been dragged along, and were going to be watching through gritted teeth. Ironically, I was sided more with these begruding boyfriends. Branded as a comedy, and 'the female version of Hangover' this film had a lot to live up to. And with such a predictable plot (or so I thought) I would be satisfied when I left the cinema,  even if I didn't laugh at hardly any of the jokes.
The result was quite the opposite. Through the duration of the film there was rarely a point where I didn't have a smile on my face, if not laughing out loud. Apatow takes the predicatable female protagonist stereotype and turns it on it's head; we see her breakdown (though not with tissues and a box of chocolates, instead ripping and breaking everything at a party in fits of anger and trying, and failing, to push over the oh so desirable chocolate fountain) we see her fall in love (not through walks in the park but rather sharing carrots with Mr Right at 4am outside a service station).

Megan

  Kristen Wiig plays Annie, a singleton who's bakery 'Cook baby' (helpfully refaced COCK baby by youths - very thoughtufl) has recently gone under. She lives with two oddballs in a flat and her life is turned upsidedown when she is asked to be Maid of Honour at her best friends wedding. Unfortunatly, this means being in charge of a rather..interesting group of Bridesmaids - one of whom is desperate to be Maid of Honour herself. This competition was the source of a lot of laughs within the audience however the best and most funniest character (aside from Annie herself) was the groom's sister Megan, who I was most certain was a lesbian at first - 'Here's an idea for the hen party. Female fight club. We grease eachother up then pounce on Lillain and beat the shit outta her' - but her sexuality soon became clear at the engangement party - 'I'm glad he's single because I'm going to climb that like a tree' .

Chris O'dowd, the lovable man that he is is perfect in his role as Rhodes the policeman. His caring, funny and charming nature combines well with Annie's sometimes neurotic although loving one. Though not the conventional 'Mr Right' - he isn't a businessman, he doesn't sport a six pack, or play golf on the weekends- he is arguably more attractive for these reasons. It's refreshing too see our protagonist fall in love with someone who isn't smooth or rich but still cares for her just the same.
On the whole, Bridesmaids is a really good film, funny, moving at times (as moving as a chick flick can be) and just the right amount of sweetness to make you go 'awwww' not 'ergghh' (the sound of retching).. Those begrudging boyfriends left the cinema with smiles on their faces, as did I. As for being the female counterpart of The Hangover I personally think this is alot funnier. Yes, it does contain cupcakes,a wedding, romance and Labrador puppies, but combine this with explicit swearing, drunken aeroplane antics, a horrendous case of food poisioning and unorthodox methods of seduction *cough megan cough* all those sweet elements are balanced out to create a good laugh. This is a film your boyfriend should not complain about going to see - although why not take all your girls mates who will go happily!