Big Screen Peter: Bridesmaids

Editor’s note: Peter Lewis has agreed to use whatever it is you call his writing style to provide some measure of analysis to those folks who still go to a theater to see a movie.

review by Peter Lewis

“Bridesmaids,” a new film produced by comedic whiz Judd Apatow and directed by Paul Feig, veteran of the comedic television circuit, seems custom cut to bring a new brand of female-centric humor to the forefront of public consciousness.

The film centers around Annie (Kristen Wiig) as a downtrodden woman in her 30s. And Wiig shines in the role. Her aura is one of an “every girl,” seemingly accessible to the masses, but with a special grace and verve that speaks of great depth and talent that separates her from the fold.

Despite what seems to be a fairly active sex life with the self-centered Ted (Jon Hamm in an uncredited cameo), Annie’s love life is non-existent. Compounding her life problems are a recently failed baking venture (Cake Baby) and some eccentric roommates. The crux: if something can go wrong for Annie, it will.

In due course, following the engagement of her friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph), the downward spiral continues as a neurotic competition develops between Annie and Lillian’s seemingly perfect friend, Helen (Rose Byrne).

It’s hard not to associate director Paul Feig’s cinematic debut Bridesmaids with the similarly off-beat marriage fiasco film, “The Hangover.” In fact, much of the advance trailer seemed specifically tilted to incite such thoughts, with the cuts ranging from the uncomfortable to the unfathomable. From that vantage point, the film seemed to proffer a veritable sea of shenanigans for those so inclined to visit the theater. And with more than $26 million in box office receipts on its opening weekend (good for the second spot overall, just behind “Thor”), it seems that many have been so inclined.

Unfortunately, what is implicitly promised in the trailer is intermittently realized onscreen.  What makes the end result so disappointing is that such talent was wasted. The cast is filled with accomplished actresses.

Apart from Rudolph’s character Lillian, the entire female lead cast of Bridesmaids is outfitted with base caricatures.

Perhaps it is simply my chromosomes showing themselves, but once again I was left confounded by Hollywood’s characterization of females. Is it really so funny to portray women as non-sentient beings, incapable of rational action or honest communication? Yes, playing up stereotypical tendencies can be comedic, but where is the threshold? As the stereotypes are stuffed down our throats, any hope of honest depictions are lost.

And while I’m on my soapbox, will someone please make a funny movie that doesn’t resort to such overt crassness? There is and always will be a place for that sort of mutated slapstick, but enough is enough. It seemed the sole intent of the creators was to one-up the male dominated comedy world with their ability to gross out and shock an audience.

Where does this leave us? With a haphazard comedic film characterized by bargain basement humor. Like the shoddy shit they hawk on late-night TV, cheap laughs are cheap for a reason.

• Bridesmaids is playing at the Carmike 14 and the Malco Cinema 12 in Fort Smith, and the Malco Van Buren Cinema. Link here for time and ticket info.

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