Should NOT have been called Bridesmaids and was NOT funny.

Rating: 2/10 (6 February 2012)

When I first saw the trailers for this movie, I thought it was going to be bad but then the movie got so much hype and some nominations. When I saw the movie, it was worse than what my first impressions were. The movie didn't know if it wanted to be a somewhat serious comedy or just ridiculous shenanigans.
First problem, it forgot to be funny. There were parts that were mildly funny but the humor felt forced. The movie spent too much time on crude fart, vomit, diarrhea, and sex jokes - this is a bridal party we are talking about? Was the point just to prove that the girls can be as disgusting as the guys? Some scenes were quite serious about Annie's (Kristen Wiig) life and those made scenes like her stabbing the cookie and ruining the chocolate fountain unnecessary and over the top. The scene where Wiig and Byrne are trying to get the cops attention felt like a bad SNL skit that just didn't end and you're feeling embarrassed for the comedians acting it out. She could've drove by twice and had it actually be funny, we didn't need ten times. The length of each scene killed all potential humor.
Kristen Wiig's character draws little sympathy. She hit her low but we didn't see her before she falls so we are only left with someone rather snarky and unlikable. She wasn't even a good friend, she couldn't sacrifice a little to make her friends wedding go smoothly. It could have been funny if Wiig was biting her tongue until she explodes.
Lastly, the plot just didn't bring much around. I was invested in all of the bridesmaids not just Wiig, though I didn't like any of them, not even Megan (Meliss McCarthy). The beginning of the movie spent time setting up the other bridesmaids such as the newly wed and the miserable wife and their story lines go nowhere. Annie could have been the main character working through her crisis and we could have seen growth in the other bridesmaids around her and a sense of comradery and bonding ensues. I thought it was bridesmaids and not 'maid of honor.' Also why does Megan show up to help Annie? Then Wiig does little to atone but all is forgiven anyway.
This movie is just bad on all levels. It tried way too hard to be funny and missed. This movie and its acting should never be nominated for anything, ever! By the way, in a Brazilian restaurant, they should have been greeted as senhorinhas not senoritas.
On a personal note: The hype combined with Golden Globe and Oscar nominations got me really excited about Bridesmaids. I was secretly hoping it would be Spinal Tap for bridesmaids. I have been a bridesmaid five times so far and the experience is ripe for comedy and I am sure many others can relate. There are bridal showers (playing inane games for prizes, not to mention how long and boring they are as someone opens predetermined gifts), buying gifts, bachelorette party (Hello!! Women adorning themselves with phallus covered crowns and some dirty games), rehearsal dinner, engagement party, wedding, picking a wedding gown, picking and ordering bridesmaids gowns and pretending you like taffeta, fittings!! (a bridal salon literally made me order a dress three sizes too big because of the size chart and my measurements even though the size in the store fit. Then when the dress came in, it was three sizes too big and I had to pay an extra $100 to get it fitted and it never fits/looks quite right after that), shoes, hair, nails, make-up, and jewelry - now start totaling up the cost of all that. Take these somewhat ridiculous situations and turn the volume up to 11 and you get the potential for a comedic gold mine, the whole custom is dying to be made fun of. I also have to say that being a bridesmaid is all worth it in the end. As much as is can be a hassle at times, it is also a lot of fun. You enjoy being their for your friend or family member on one of the most important days of their lives and are so honored that they chose you to be part it. The joy and the pain of the whole experience wasn't just not captured but completely ignored and this was a big disappointment. It could have been forgiven if the movie was good.