Over-hyped, and mis-represented excuse for female comedy

Rating: Null/10 (22 October 2011)

I know exactly why Bridesmaids was so successful. Women wanted a dirty, raunchy, fun, slapstick, laugh out loud comedy for them, just like guys got The Hangover. Making a film like this would have to be instant gold at the box office and it was!! Why did I dislike it? Well first of all it was completely misrepresented. People that call this the female Hangover are just desperately trying to make themselves believe that. There was no wild and crazy adventure in this film. They get on the airplane for what like five minutes and then the rest is surrounding the wedding and the fancy homes and the city they reside in. The entire film focuses on the Maid of Honors mental break down and barely even touches the other 'Bridesmaids' which again misrepresents the film. Everything that people say about this movie I just don't see. The script for this film is some of the most awkward dialogue I've ever seen on the big screen. It felt like a two hour SNL skit that wasn't funny. I think I would have scored this less than five if even just a little of the hype didn't rub off on me and I didn't completely want to cut my wrists watching it.
Kristen Wiig is Bridemaids. The whole film revolves around her and her breakdown leading up the wedding. Wiig is really the same as she is when she's playing her awkward SNL characters. I suppose some are big fans of that but to me it was just way too much over and over and over again. She has no chemistry on screen. I could say almost the exact same thing about Maya Rudolph only graciously she is almost underused in the film and she is definitely toned down from her SNL performances or her recent turn on the sitcom Up All Night (a good show by the way.) Rose Byrne is the snooty rich friend who becomes an instant nemesis to Wiig's character. Their rivalry is the basis of the entire film, and is focused on about an hour too much of the entire film. Receiving a ton of accolade for this film is Melissa McCarthy as the raunchy cousin. She is funny and she might be the only strong performer in the film. I think she is typecast in her comedy because of her size but it works for her. The other Bridesmaids gals Wendi McLendon-Covey and Ellie Kemper are barely noticeable and get buried under the rest of the cast. I'm not sure why they are even there. Chris O'Dowd is the love interest for Wiig and he's good but he exudes the same awkwardness that clouds the entire film.
If there is one scene that boils down how I feel about this film it's the toasting scene with Wiig and Byrne. It feels like it's improvised and it also feels like its never going to end and the awkward angle is not funny because its already been done throughout the entire film...again extended SNL skit. No funnier than MacGruber (I've never seen it but I can imagine.) Director Paul Feig has had a long successful career in acting and directing. A lot of his direction is from off-beat comedies like Arrested Development, Freaks and Geeks, and The Office and it shows. Shows like that also thrive on an awkward comedy and this is really right up his alley. I think he's lucky that Bridesmaids hit all the right chords for people, came around at the right time and the right place but I'm sure I'm not the only one that thought it was over hyped and just not very funny. Sorry ladies...this one is a dud. 5/10