One supposes it was only a matter of time until we got a film like Bridesmaids that has the women being the stupid, crude and rude characters instead the men.

The crowd of mostly women at the same sold-out screening as this reviewer laughed uproariously and enjoyed it thoroughly.

Kristen Wiig plays the life-long friend of Maya Rudolph’s character, about to marry, and is asked to be maid of honour. Soon she’s in a competition with a new friend (Rose Byrne) to be the best bridesmaid and from Wiig’s point of view, everything goes wrong.

She organizes a dinner at a restaurant with bad food, (resulting in the girls puking, farting, etc.), she’s broke, she loses her job and apartment (has to move back home with mom, Jill Clayburgh in her last performance) and ruins a budding romance with a cop (Irishman Chris O’Dowd as a Wisconsin state trooper). Meanwhile Byrne organizes events including a failed Vegas trip and a reception with cute puppies as party favours.

Wiig is very impressive in her first starring role and is very funny. She co-wrote the script as well as co-produced, so this could be the launch of a high profile career. Bridesmaid Melissa McCarthy steals almost every scene she’s in.

The film doesn’t always work, and the crudity is too much sometimes (I’m not sure a bride-to-be pooping in the street is that funny), but Bridesmaids is mostly a good time for all.

Rating: four deer out of five

Next Week on Video

Gnomeo and Juliet is a popular family film with garden gnomes re-telling the story of Romeo and Juliet.

Alf Cryderman is a Red Deer freelance writer and old movie buff.