Bridesmaids

If you are a guy in a relationship with a girl, then chances are you have seen a few chick flicks.  Thanks to my girlfriend, I am no stranger to this genre and cannot say that I enjoy them.  However, one film that recently came to DVD resonated strongly with me and demanded that I rethink my opinion of chick flicks.  I am referring to the movie, Bridesmaids.  This film was released in theaters in early 2011 and was advertised as “Not another chick flick.”  It was also produced by the same team who brought us Superbad, Knocked-up, and The 40-year old Virgin.  This was enough information to peak my curiosity, and I must say, Bridesmaids is a movie that delivers in the interest of Men and Women.

                The film’s main character is Annie, a middle aged lady who is in a bit of a life rut.  However, her problems are not realized until her best friend “Lillian” gets engaged and bequeaths the duty of “maid of honor” to Annie.  The main conflict is revealed when Annie meets the rest of Lillian’s bridesmaids including the antagonist, Helen.  Helen is constantly one-upping Annie as she tries to live up to her responsibilities as “maid of honor” until she can take no more.

                I know what you are thinking.  This seems like a typical chick flick, and the truth is it does follow the same pattern as any other chick flick.  A main character is involved in relationship issues, he or she meets a person who is clearly a better choice, but he or she does not realize it until some life changing event occurs.  This is a structure that we have become very familiar with.  Bridesmaids is unique, in that, it does not focus primarily on the relationship issue.  Instead, the film’s main focus is competing for approval amongst friends.  This tweak in focus succeeds in keeping both Men and Women emotionally invested in the story.

                The success of this movie stems heavily from its comedic value.  If you enjoyed any of the previous comedies from the producers, then you will find that Bridesmaids offers the same brand of humor.  What makes the humor this film successful is the improvised dialogue exchanges.  Annie and Helen clearly don’t see eye to eye on any topic, and instead of standing down, both characters continue to politely argue their point for what seems like an eternity.  The results are hilarious.  It should be noted Bridesmaids is also quite vulgar.  At the risk of spoiling any jokes, I’ll just say that some scenes require a strong stomach.  This element detaches it farther from the typical chick flick and adds refreshing comedic value.

                If your girlfriend is in the mood for a fun romantic comedy, Bridesmaids is the perfect movie for both parties.  The movie is available on DVD and BluRay now.  I strongly recommend it to anyone over 13 due to language.