Bridesmaids Review

This past weekend I had the amazing pleasure of seeing an entire genre of film be reinvented... The chick-flick.

When it comes to chick-flicks I am a huge hater. There is nothing more I hate than a film that features one of the following:

- Freddie Prinze Jr.
- Jennifer Lopez
- Josh Hartnett
- A storyline where a girl is transformed from nerdy-looking into Rachel Leigh Cook
- A film with an animal in the title and how we must love that animal to be able to date you
- And many many other things

Chick flicks are the worst. Most of the time, with very few exceptions, every chick flick follows the same storyline arc. Likeable guy meets likeable girl with an impossible obstacle preventing them from being together. Guy and girl appear to be working through differences and falling in love when terrible obstacle presents itself, all hell breaks loose, then the comedic relief best friend, usually played by this girl puts everything in perspective.

Then everyone lives happily ever after...

Well this weekend a film came out that featured none of the above, Bridesmaids.

Bridesmaids is a film that gives The Hangover, 40 Year Old Virgin and other recent comedy hits a run for their money. A film with a wonderful script, an amazingly talented cast and the perfect amount of over the top humor while remaining heartfelt and based in reality.

This will be the film that launches Kristin Wiig from beloved SNL cast member to a comedy icon. Anyone who still watches SNL knows Wiig is one of the few great things the long-running series has left. Wiig, in my opinion, is the funniest and most talented female member of the SNL cast since Gilda Radner. No one commands more laughs or performs with more energy than Wiig. This film gives Wiig the platform to be just as funny and over the top but it allows Wiig an opportunity to show off her dramatic, emotional self, which she excels at.

What I love about this film more than anything is that it exhibits Girl Power to the max. It is a cast with all female leads being funny. And they are hilarious. I can not remember a movie that was so devoted to women, dealing with women issues and not missing a hilarious beat. As you may have noticed I am not a woman and therefore I have never been a bridesmaid, but yet the humor works and is not lost one bit. I hope this film is a sign of things to come. That women can carry comedies and not just cookie cutter rom-com's.

To wrap up the review I believe I enjoyed Bridesmaids more than The Hangover and 40 Year Old Virgin, two comedies that rank amongst my favorites. What separates this film from others is its heart. Wiig's performances along with Maya Rudolph's, Jon Hamm's and Chris O'Dowd's create a storyline and characters you invest yourself in. While you are laughing constantly you are feeling, which is seldom for a comedy.

I loved this film. And I would suggest you all see it. However if you are going to go with your parents, or as a first date, I would skip the first 5 minutes... Just saying.

Nathan Star Rating- 4 stars.