Girls Just Want to Have Fun (too) -- and it gets even better with repeat viewings!!!

Rating: 8/10 (13 July 2011)

How one feels about the raunchy female kink-fest Bridesmaids also hinges on how much one likes (and/or can tolerate) the old Wilson-Phillips standby, "Hold On" (for real). The song is an admitted guilty-pleasure to many (including myself); but Bridesmaids shouldn't be quite the guilty pleasure as that song as there should be NO guilt in liking this female driven Judd Apatow-production (thanks to him we have Superbad, Knocked-Up, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Anchorman, Step Brothers etc in our video libraries!!).
It is a rare female-driven bawdy comedy along the lines of The Hangover (but NOT as graphic or extreme) that is smart, crafty and emotionally-driven with a mature-comedic performance by its star, Kristen Wiig (SNL, Knocked Up, Whip It). Wiig's Annie finds her life spiraling downward after her best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph - SNL, Idiocracy, Away We Go) becomes engaged and her life appears to be approaching "perfection". I MUST say and stress that Wiig is a marvel here and her bridal shower meltdown is one for the record books (cookie, anyone?!). Wiig may have been around for years; but this performance solidified her as a comedy star.
With a "new" best friend (Rose Byrne - Sunshine, 28 Weeks Later, Insidious, "Damages") who steamrolls into Lillian's life, Annie feels abandoned and alone when all of her thoughts and concerns should be focused on the upcoming nuptials of her best friend. The drama that plays out behind the film's comedy is surprisingly sophisticated and grown-up and very realistic. Add to this comedy-drama some fine-supporting players as in the UNCREDITED sleazy/sexist Jon Hamm ("Mad Men", The Town, The Day the Earth Stood Still); a still radiant but SADLY late Jill Clayburgh (Love and Other Drugs, An Unmarried Woman, Running with Scissors) in her last role; and a perky Ellie Kemper (Somewhere, "The Office", Get Him to the Greek) and Bridesmaids has a little bit of everything for everyone (although fellow supporting player Melissa McCarthy of TV's "Mike & Molly" takes it a bit too far).
Even if the film is all-about Annie and her fellow bridesmaids ... I think the story of ANYone being "left behind" as a friend moves onto the next stages of his/her life is a universal one. Wiig's performance captures the fragility of a scared individual who's life has not turned out according to plan ... but as the story (and song) can attest -- if one can "hold on for one more day ..." things may change.
Life does come at us one day at a time ... it is too bad that films like this come around much less often. I must say that I highly enjoyed Bridesmaids after seeing it ONE time; but my opinion has only gotten stronger and improved with each subsequent viewing! I think this movie is something rather special.