Annie's (Kristen Wiig, Whip It and Extract) life really isn't on track right now. The bakery she started, Cake Baby, financially failed and her loser boyfriend left her with all of the ensuing debt. She lives with two oddball roommates, Brynn (Rebel Wilson) and Gil (Matt Lucas, Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire), British brother and sister with a peculiar relationship; she doesn't have a boyfriend, but gets together to "hang out" (in the bedroom) with Ted (John Hamm, Mad Men), a wealthy and handsome man who doesn't want a relationship; she works in a dead-end job at a jewelry store and ends up depressing the customers with her tales of woe; and worst of all, she just found out that her best friend since childhood, Lillian (Maya Rudolph, Saturday Night Live), just got engaged. Of course, Annie is thrilled for her dear friend and happy that she asked her to be the Maid of Honor, but things go down from there. When she meets Lillian's new friend, Helen (Rose Byrne, Insidious), the two immediately clash. Helen is perfect, after all. She's rich, beautiful, poised and has latched on to Lillian in a big way, which ruffles Annie.
Annie can't seem to do anything right where the wedding is concerned. According to Helen, her ideas are lame, although Helen ends up stealing them all and one-upping Annie in every way she can. They all eat at a dingy Brazilian steakhouse Annie chooses the day they go looking for bridesmaids' gowns and they all get food poisoning. Annie picks the premiere bridal shop in town for dresses, but made no appointment, so Helen has to get them in with her clout. Annie wants to go to Lillian's parents' lake house for the bachelorette party, but Helen whips the other girls up into a froth to go to Vegas, which is tough for the financially strapped Annie. Once on the plane to Vegas, Annie gets drunk to get over her flying fears, and causes a scene and gets them thrown off the plane. When Lillian hands off the bridal shower preparation to Helen because "she does these things all the time," Annie is hurt, but understands. However, when she arrives at the over-the-top shower done in a Parisian theme (her original suggestion that was shot down by Helen, then subsequently stolen), she is upset, but quells her feelings. Then she realizes that Helen has given Lillian a trip to Paris as a shower gift, making Lillian's lifelong dream of visiting the city of lights a reality. This throws Annie over the top and she has a destructive meltdown, destroying the shower.
Now, everything in Annie's life is going to hell. The only good thing in her life is a cop she meets when he pulls her over. Officer Nathan Rhodes (Chris O'Dowd, Gulliver's Travels) is a charming Irishman and one who genuinely appreciates Annie, even with all of her flaws. Since Annie seems to be in a self-destructive pattern lately, she runs the other way from this good man and soon, she is left with no boyfriend, no friends, no job, no place to live and she is banned from her best friend's wedding. When Lillian goes missing on her wedding day, it will take Helen, Annie and Officer Rhodes to see that she makes it to the altar.
If this sounds like a typical chick flick, you are gravely mistaken. First off, the cast is brilliant. I've always liked Kristen Wiig, but she is simply amazing in this film, which she co-wrote with Annie Mumolo. The way she can communicate her feelings through the expressions on her face is just wonderful to watch. She's such a relatable character as she fumbles through her life. Maya Rudolph pairs well with Wiig, but Rose Byrne is picture perfect as the eminently hate-worthy Helen. Ellie Kemper and Wendi McLendon-Covey (Reno 911) round out the bridesmaids as both are hysterical in their own ways, but the absolute show-stealer in every scene she is in is Melissa McCarthy (Samantha Who?) as Megan, sister of the groom. She is raw, gruff, bold and completely hysterical. During the food poisoning scene, I literally had tears running down my cheeks I was laughing so hard. This is a very different character than what I have seen her play in the past and she is phenomenal. Jill Clayburgh as Annie's mom is also a great addition to the cast. She is so poised, yet the most riotously funny things come out of her mouth.
As I said earlier, the special features alone are worth the price of admission. The Blu-ray version not only looks crisp and beautiful and the rockin' soundtrack sounds great, but it offers a lot of additional deleted/alternate scenes and such, so go with that version for sure. There are tons of deleted and alternate scenes, as well as a really funny making-of featurette. There are several line-o-ramas, fake commercials for Annie's former place of business and for the home business her roomies start, and lots of improv footage. You also get the theatrical version, plus an unrated version of the film with an extra 6 minutes of footage. Extra scenes were included here and there and it's well worth seeing. There's also a commentary with Director Paul Feig and the group of bridesmaids, except for Rose Byrne. It's funny stuff and to hear all of the inside stories is worth another watch. You also get the DVD version, plus a digital version included as well.
If you haven't yet seen Bridesmaids, now is the time. Go buy this movie. While it's not for the little ones (at all), you will laugh until you cry. Highly recommended.
