What Do The Critics Say?

"Something even rarer than an American film with a woman as protagonist: an American film comedy that is absolutely and genuinely funny. Though it's not quite as gaspingly over-burdened as Apatow pictures like Knocked Up or Funny People, it still doesn't really fill up its one hundred twenty minutes, and one suspects that a bolder director might have informed his writer and lead that some of the subplots needed to be sliced back a bit." Tim Brayton ANTAGONY & ECSTACY "While it's got the gross-out gags and witty banter, this isn't merely an Apatow flick recast with women. This actually represents the female experience for many, with Wiig and writing partner Annie Mumolo finding the tragic humour in women's pre-wedding rituals while also nailing the awkwardness, jealousies and laughs that underpin real female relationships. Occasionally the comedy threatens to derail, but it never does, because it's always grounded in Wiig's heartfelt and utterly relatable performance." Cara Nash FILMINK "There's friendship, jealousy, love and laughs swirling around in this compelling chick flick which embraces everything from high fashion to toilet humour. It's funny and it's charming, largely due to Kristen Wiig's great sense of timing and the smart comic script she has penned with Annie Mumolo. Like Tina Fey, who also worked on Saturday Night Live, Wiigg has the ability to be unselfconscious in the most self-conscious situations and earns credibility brownie points throughout." Louise Keller URBAN CINEFILE "The movie, though, ultimately belongs to Wiig more than anyone else. Her Annie is just a mess. And the more things go wrong in her life, the funnier her exasperation and unpredictability becomes. The film features at least four major comic set pieces that are quite funny, and Wiig is at the center of each of them. Fortunately, the emotional investment is there, so it's fairly easy to stay with the film through its less tight stretches. I think Wiig, Rudolph, and crew have succeeded." Teddy Durgin SCREEN IT!

"Kristen Wiig finally gets her chance to shine in a lead role with this hilarious comedy. The film veers a bit wildly between silly playfulness and extreme rudeness, but it keeps us hooked by maintaining believable characters. Wiig is terrific at the centre, generating warm camaraderie with Rudolph and spiky rivalry with Byrne. And her chemistry with O'Dowd is enjoyably funny and cute. Meanwhile, scene-stealers like McCarthy, Clayburgh (as Annie's mum) and Lucas (as Annie's flatmate) bubble around the edges. There isn't a scene in the film that doesn't generate a solid laugh, often of the gut-wrenching variety. And while a few gross-out gags go over the top, they at least stay essentially good-natured." Rich Cline SHADOWS ON THE WALL "If you or anyone you know is planning a wedding, send them along to Bridesmaids; they might well rethink their bridesmaids and consider hiring a few nuns instead - preferably from an order with a strict vow of silence. Where the Hangover franchise plumbs the depths of male pre-wedding antics, Bridesmaids looks at the women and their friends in pre-wedding mode. It's not always a pretty sight." Andrew L Urban URBAN CINEFILE "All of these performers are entertaining, rounding out their characters with depth and more than a little battiness. Stealing every scene, however, is Melissa McCarthy (TV's "Gilmore Girls" and "Mike & Molly"), who, as Megan, the groom's sister, is an unexpected force to be reckoned with. (Some of the funniest scenes involve her interactions with her seatmate on a plane, a character played by her real-life husband). The idea of a woman in a downward spiral isn't the focus of many movies, so Wiig portrays a kind of everywoman who makes her life more miserable with every bad choice and lack of restraint." Linda Cook KWQC-TV "Bridesmaids has been aptly described as “The Hangover for women”. Spurred on by strong word of mouth, the film has pulled in more than $100m at the U.S. box-office in its first 4 weeks. That’s not bad for a film with no big name actors! I’m sure many will see it for its gross-out moments but I was more impressed with how the film captures the fragility of its imperfect characters. It’s the first time we’ve seen Kristen Wiig in a leading role and she is fantastic." Matthew Toomey ABC RADIO BRISBANE

The Inside Story Longtime friends Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo met years ago at The Groundlings, the Los Angeles-based improv troupe where they wrote sketches with one another. "Annie and I went through the company around the same time, and we found each other to write together. We’ve always written so smoothly that there’s never any ego, and we’ve never fought over anything to be in or out of a script. It’s a great creative relationship where we respect each other. She’s one of my best friends," Wiig ("Semi-Pro") recalls. After her breakout cameo role in producer Judd Apatow’s 2007 film, "Knocked Up", the popular Saturday Night Live actress was asked to try her hand at another side of filmmaking. Apatow appreciated her unique comedy style and wanted to see what else she was capable of onscreen. As Wiig explained: "I was approached by Judd to write a script, so I called Annie and asked if she wanted to do it with me. She had this idea that she had talked about before, and said, 'Let’s write it out.' Apatow revealed his involvement in the project: :Every time we do a movie, I always think, 'Who stole some of their scenes? Could any of these people star in their own movie?' After "Knocked Up", I thought Kristen deserved to be the lead of a movie. I asked her if she had any ideas and she came back to me with this idea about bridesmaids she’d worked on with her friend Annie Mumolo." Mumolo says that she and Wiig share a no-holds-barred style of comedy. "The first day we wrote together at The Groundlings, Kristen and I bonded, and we had great success. Not only did we always have so much fun there, we were to able to get a lot of material in and worked together often." In 2006 after Wiig had been on SNL for about a year, the two started writing their script. "I had this story about how I had been a bridesmaid a number of times, and I was disgruntled about it," Mumolo recalled. "I was very much a delinquent bridesmaid, so we started writing about my adventures with these different girls." When it came time for their big chance, Mumolo remembers that it happened very suddenly. "After "Knocked Up", Kristen asked me to go in and pitch Judd. She said, 'Just go in and tell him what the movie is about.' I had never pitched anything before, and I didn’t even realize that was what pitching was, but I went in and told him the basics of the story." Over the next several years of the film’s development, Mumolo and Wiig honed their script with Apatow so it wouldn’t read as anything close to 'another wedding-themed movie'. Wiig (a revelation as Ruth Buggs in "Paul") says that it was important to differentiate this film as one that is not simply a romantic comedy about a girl who’s in a wedding or a bride in a love story. "Bridesmaids focuses on something that a lot of women can relate to: the people who are in the wedding. We wanted to tell the real story of what it’s like to be in one and what you’re expected to do. It’s a lot, and it’s kind of a pain in the ass." When it came time for Wiig and Mumolo to consider source material from which to draw, they didn’t have to go far. "Annie’s been in weddings and gone to showers, and her stories sound like they came out of a movie," Wigg says. The women's aim was not to make a treacly rom-com about trying to land a man, but rather a ballsy comedy that celebrated how real women interacted with one another. "We wanted a movie without the frill. We wanted to tell the story of what our experiences were like: the down and dirty, gritty version of bridesmaids, where not everyone’s hair is perfect and everyone looks good and has cute stories," Mumolo offered. "We learned as we went, and Judd guided us. He has a commitment to being original." When the search began for a director to helm the production, Wiig remembers one of the first names discussed was 2009 DGA Award winner Paul Feig (US version of "The Office"). "Judd mentioned him, and we met to discuss. Paul cast me in my very first movie role in "Unaccompanied Minors" as a slutty mom. After meeting with him, I called Judd and I said, 'Yes, yes, yes!' Not only is Paul incredibly talented and hilarious and has such a good mind for comedy, he’s also incredibly patient and collaborative. All the girls loved him to death. I can’t imagine anybody else as our director." In addition to his work with Wiig, the director had partnered with Apatow on a project that was one of the defining moments of both of their careers, "Freaks and Geeks", the classic TV show created by Feig and executive produced by Apatow. "Throughout the years, Judd and I have kept in touch and wanted to figure out a project to do together again. "Bridesmaids" came to me several years ago. Judd invited me to a table read of Kristen and Annie’s original script, and I thought it was very funny. I was very interested." It would be a few more years before the opportunity to revisit "Bridesmaids" came around for the director, producers and the cast. "In the beginning of 2010, I was in New York shooting commercials," Feig (TV'S "Arrested Development") recalled, "and I got a call from my agents. I got on the phone with Judd, and within two minutes I was committed to the project and it was set in motion. It’s been a whirlwind since." Feig ("I Am David") adds that his primary interest in the script was due to its honesty and relatability that blended well with dirty humor. "I’ve always been interested in doing more female-based stories. I enjoy these stories and the emotions and the comedy that can be had in them. It’s exciting to bring Judd’s style of humor to a movie about women and still make it honest and real. We’ve explored themes that women can relate to while guys will also find it hilarious. What we wanted to capture was women talking like women do behind the scenes where guys aren’t privy to it." Producer Barry Mendel, who had recently worked with Wiig on Drewe Barrymore's directorial debut film, "Whip It", shared the team’s desire to explore a new take on a comedy subgenre that is often seen as trite. "The aspects of planning a wedding are very coordinated and Kristen and Annie wrote about how women sometimes get carried away when planning them." As Mumolo and Wiig crafted the characters with 1993 EMMY Award winner Apatow ("The Ben Stiller Show"), they wanted to flesh out the nuances and eccentricities of each bridesmaid. They knew it could be easy to fall into the stereotype trap, and every decision was designed to avoid that while maximizing comedy. "Sometimes girls in movies are portrayed as very girlie and perfect and they’re simply the neighbor or the wife. There’s so many funny actresses out there that to have a movie that has many funny roles for women, instead of just a couple on the side, was gratifying for Annie and me to write and help cast," Wiig notes. When casting the 'bride to be' Lillian, the team turned toward a longtime friend of Wiig’s and past 'partner in crime' of hers on SNL. Maya Rudolph, who co-starred with John Krasinski in Sam Mendes 2009 film, "Away We Go", was not only keen to play Lillian, she was eager to work once again with Wiig, with whom she has been close. "Kristen and I have this strange way of talking to each other and making each other laugh, and you can see it throughout the movie. When do you get the opportunity to do that with somebody who shares the same brain?" But Annie has a serious contention for the role of maid of honor. The role of the conflicted antagonist was offered to an actress who has long been known for her dramatic choices: until her last Apatow production linked her to pop star Jackie Q in "Get Him to the Greek": 2007 AFI winner Rose Byrne. While initially asked to read for one of the other roles in Bridesmaids, Byrne ("X-Men First Class") requested something else. Her request? "Give me a crack at being the bitch. It’s rare that you read a script about a group of funny women in a situation that is familiar to everybody. Being a bridesmaid in a wedding drew me in; the part was so funny. Helen was just delicious." While Annie just wants to fit in with the other bridesmaids, Lillian’s future sister-in-law, the fight club-loving and nuclear engineer wild card Megan, could care less. Feig recalls: "We saw all different types." Until Kristen and Annie suggested he had to see their friend Melissa McCarthy (Sookie St. James in "Gilmore Girls"). The actress came in with a go for broke take on Megan, a free spirit who has a distinct take on the world, and she killed it. McCarthy, who describes her character as "a bulldozer" revealed: "I love Megan. From the beginning, I wanted her to look physically like Guy Fieri on the Food Network with a big, boxy shirt. There’s nothing feminine about her except for her nails and pearls." The part of Lillian’s cousin, the exasperated housewife Rita, would go to Wendi McLendon-Covey (TV'S "Reno 911!"). Wiig says they "wrote the part for Wendi when we first wrote the script several years ago. She’s married and she’s always complaining about it, but deep down she’s happy at home. Wendi is such an amazing improviser that it was a gift every time she opened her mouth ." For the role of the wide-eyed ingénue Becca, the production searched for someone who could play a naïve newlywed preparing to have kids. "I worked with Ellie Kemper on The Office the same year I worked with Wendi," Feig states. "There’s something that Ellie has that is just so funny." Kemper ("Get Him to the Greek") notes: "What I love is that all these women are connected to Lillian, and they’re dear to her. But then, when you put them together, it’s uncomfortable and hilarious to see them sharing this one task. Their common goal is to serve the bride, and seeing how that plays out is fascinating as they all try to be the best bridesmaids they can be." Joining the ladies in Bridesmaids in supporting roles is a collection of comedy performers that includes Chris O’Dowd (General Edward in "Gulliver's Travels") as Annie’s Irish-born suitor, Officer Rhodes. He notes, "People can be very sacrosanct about their scripts, and they can want nothing to be changed, and be very protective. But here, it was 'Whatever the best lines and best scenes are will be used.' That’s the way it should be." "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm plays Ted. "Basically, it’s just a sexual relationship, and it epitomizes how bad she feels about herself that she lets this continue to happen. But he’s so handsome, it’s hard not to," Apatow offered. Additional cast talent includes U.K. TV'S "Little Britain" star MATT LUCAS as Annie’s odd roommate, Gil; Rebel Wilson (Toula in TV's "Pizza") as Gil’s odder sister, Brynn; Michael Hitchcock as Annie’s jewelry store boss, Don; Kali Hawkas Don’s favorite employee, Kahlua; 2008 Webby Award winner Tim Heidecker ( "Tim and Eric") as Lillian’s fiancé, Dougie; Terry Crews (TV's "Everybody Hates Chris") as the boot camp instructor who chases Lillian and Annie away; and the late (30/4/44 - 5/11/2010) legendary two time Oscar nominated (1979 & '98) actress and 1978 Cannes Film Festival Best Actress winner Jill Clayburgh ("An Unmarried Woman") who plays Annie’s mother, Judy. What's It All About?

Annie’s life keeps coming up short. Her love life is non-existent. Sex comes and goes through Ted, her somewhat detached, very casual lover, whose using her up. But when she discovers her lifetime best friend is engaged, she simply must serve as Lillian’s maid of honor. Though lovelorn and broke, Annie dives into all of the required rituals as she gets to know the other ladies in the bridal party, including a newly found rival who, despite having only known the bride to be for eight months, is perfectly poised to fulfill all the duties that Annie struggles with. As she brings Lillian’s bridesmaids along on an escalating series of disasters that eventually see her ostracized from her friends, left homeless and missing her first chance at true love, Annie will finally come to realizes, the one person who knows her the best, Lillian, has introduced her to four strangers who will shake up her life for good.

The Verdict "If you thought "The Hangover" and "The Hangover II" were funny, then wait until you see "Bridesmaids". Sorry guys, I have to say, "Bridesmaids" is every bit as funny as "The Hangover", but it's far funnier than its sequel 'Hangover II'. In fact, "Bridesmaids" pips 'Hangover II' on every level. This is due, in the main, thanks to director Paul Feig and producer Judd Apatow's natural ability to allow the films comedic moments to run their full course. Simply put, it makes for a seemless story line and sustains the 'endorphin factor' throughout. Wigg does exceptionally well in this her first lead role, but those who saw this years "Paul", already know she is a natural when it comes to comedy. While there are a massive amount of laughs woven into the films storyline, one of the funniest segments comes near the films end. It should have many in the audience in stitches. And don't think the laughs only revolve around the films female characters, because they don't. Chris O'Dowd (a real scene stealer in "Gulliver's Travels") makes a most noteworthy contribution. "Bridesmaids" is raunchy, naughty, sweet and very, very, funny. 4 1/2 STARS." Who Is Playing Who?

Kristen Wiig Chris O'Dowd Maya Rudolph Rose Byrne Jessica St. Clair Melissa McCarthy Ellie Kemper Wendi McLendon-Covey Jill Clayburgh Rebel Wilson Terry Crews Michael Hitchcock Carnie Wilson Chynna Phillips Wendy Wilson Kali Hawk Joe Nunez Matt Lucas Greg Tuculescu

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Annie Officer Nathan Rhodes Lillian Helen Whitney Megan Becca Rita Annie's Mom Brynn Boot Camp Instructor Don Cholodecki Herself Herself Herself Kahlua Oscar the Security Guard Gil Kevin

The Production Team Directed by Paul Feig Written by Kristen Wiig & Annie Mumolo Produced by Judd Apatow/Barry Mendel/Clayton Townsend Original Music by Michael Andrews Cinematography by Robert D. Yeoman Film Editing by William Kerr & Michael L Sale Production Design by Jefferson Sage Art Direction by Keith P. Cunningham Set Decoration by Douglas A. Mowat Costume Design by Leesa Evans Co-costume Designer Christine Wada Run Time 125 minutes Rated MA15+ [AUST] Copyright ©2011 - Universal Pictures - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2011 - The Movie Pages & Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved. Protected by Australian & International Copyright, Trademark Laws & Intellectual Property Rights.