Gross out yet touching best friend flick

Rating: Null/10 (14 August 2011)

Bridesmaids implores you to, 'Save the date', as the all-female cast glare menacingly in their pink meringue frocks from the poster. For all its gown fittings, cake tastings and bachelorette frolicking, Bridesmaids really brings it with the toilet humour. This is definitely not one to take your mother or a first date to. You'll know what I mean once you experience the pillow bitingly graphic sex scene that opens the film. I should warn the fainter of heart that this seemingly lady friendly, wedding-themed, rom-com comes from the creative loins of one Judd Apatow; the man responsible for gross-out genre hits including, 40 Year Old Virgin and Superbad.
Perhaps not so well known this side of the pond is the film's writer, Kristen Wiig, who has successfully helmed the team at Saturday Night Live alongside the likes of Tina Fey since 2005. Honing her craft as part of the infamous Los Angeles comedy sketch group, the Groundlings, Wiig is comfortable among a cast of like-minded women who you will just about recognise from bit parts in various indie flicks and alternative US comedy series. A notable scene stealer comes in the form of Melissa McCarthy; a regular on US cable, she does a 180 degree turn from her usual style to portray Megan, the groom's masculine yet predatorily hetero sister. McCarthy is hardly a rose between thorns though amongst this cast of truly glittering comedic performances.
In fairness, I could describe Bridesmaids as the all-girl version of recent hit, The Hangover, but in truth, it's so much more than that. Sure, it follows the fool proof plot of, best friends forever-one gets engaged-they both set out to plan the best wedding ever-jealousy sets in-a rift arises-then all is forgotten with a heart wrenching reunion, but what else do you want from a light-hearted rom-com? Having seen both, I can attest that the script is infinitely more natural and less cheesy than the Hangover and I give full credit to the aforementioned Wiig. Admittedly, the in your face toilet humour does seem more jarring when delivered by females, but that says more about the Neanderthal mentality of us viewers. You will be shocked to see the bride, Maya Rudolph, defecating in an unthinkable location and even women's' the irresponsible drunkenness seems somehow more upsetting, but Bridesmaids is a trail blazer in this sense. It's nothing we haven't seen before in cinema, it's just being said from behind a particularly beautiful bridal gown.
For those of you expecting a reprisal of that hallowed, long anticipated girls' night out to the cinema of 2008 (and, undoubtedly, again just last summer for the sequel) be aware that Bridesmaids is the anti Sex in the City. In my opinion, and I loved SATC 1 and 2, this is a good thing. Bridesmaids doesn't skimp on drama or laughs, yet manages to create authentic relationships between relatable women. It's surprising to find a film that subtly imparts touching life lessons alongside diarrhoea and vomit explosions but Bridesmaids delivers just that. Tell your boyfriend from me that I promise he won't be bored and please, for the love of god, don't eat before you watch it.