Bridesmaids (2011)

Director:

Paul Feig

Writers (WGA):

Kristen Wiig (written by) &
Annie Mumolo (written by)

Release Date:

13 May 2011 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

Competition between the maid of honor and a bridesmaid, over who is the bride's best friend, threatens to upend the life of an out-of-work pastry chef.

Plot Keywords:

Maid Of Honor | Bridesmaid | Best Friend | Cake | Party

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 44 nominations

Cast

Kristen Wiig	...	Annie Walker
Terry Crews	...	Boot Camp Instructor
Maya Rudolph	...	Lillian
Tom Yi	...	Jewelry Store Couple
Elaine Kao	...	Jewelry Store Couple
Michael Hitchcock	...	Don Cholodecki
Kali Hawk	...	Kahlua
Joe Nunez	...	Oscar the Security Guard (as Joseph A. Nunez)
Rebel Wilson	...	Brynn
Matt Lucas	...	Gil
Jill Clayburgh	...	Annie's Mom
Wendi McLendon-Covey	...	Rita
Ellie Kemper	...	Becca
Greg Tuculescu	...	Kevin
Steve Bannos	...	Annie's Mistaken Husband
Melissa McCarthy	...	Megan
Hugh Dane	...	Annie's Mistaken Fella
Rose Byrne	...	Helen
Franklyn Ajaye	...	Lillian's Dad
Tim Heidecker	...	Dougie
Lynne Marie Stewart	...	Lillian's Mom
Andy Buckley	...	Helen's Husband
Chris O'Dowd	...	Rhodes
Molly Buffington	...	Helen's Stepdaughter
Matt Bennett	...	Helen's Stepson
Nancy Carell	...	Helen's Tennis Partner
Melanie Hutsell	...	Annie's Tennis Partner
Eloy Casados	...	Churra Chi Waiter
Jessica St. Clair	...	Whitney
Dana Powell	...	Flight Attendant Claire
Mitch Silpa	...	Flight Attendant Steve
Annie Mumolo	...	Nervous Woman on Plane
Ben Falcone	...	Air Marshall Jon
Angelica Acedo	...	Flight Attendant in Coach
Mia Rose Frampton	...	13-Year-Old Girl in Jewelry Store
Joel Madison	...	13-Year-Old Girl's Father
R.F. Daley	...	Butler
Jordan Black	...	Horseman
David Hoffman	...	Doorman at Shower
Jillian Bell	...	Girl at Shower
Ariane Price	...	Girl at Shower
Frederik Hamel	...	Shower Waiter
Richard Riehle	...	Bill Cozbi
Jimmy Brogan	...	Minister
Carnie Wilson	...	Herself
Chynna Phillips	...	Herself
Wendy Wilson	...	Herself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Christine Ames	...	Party Attendee (uncredited)
Paolo Carascon	...	Plane Passenger (uncredited)
Pat Carroll	...	Old Woman in Car (uncredited)
David Cohen	...	Plane Passenger (uncredited)
Brennan Crewe	...	Cafe Patron (uncredited)
Niko El Santo Zavero	...	Plane Passenger (uncredited)
Michelle Faraone	...	Bootcamp Victim (uncredited)
Zachary Christopher Fay	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Paul Feig	...	Guy at wedding (uncredited)
Kent A. Gallegos	...	Wedding guest (uncredited)
Blake Garrett Rosenthal	...	Tyler (uncredited)
Jon Hamm	...	Ted (uncredited)
Joyce Lakin	...	Lillian's Aunt (uncredited)
Brian Petsos	...	Pete (uncredited)
Tony Sagastizado I	...	Brazilian Waiter (uncredited)
Frank Scozzari	...	Parisian Server (uncredited)
Lisa Spoelstra	...	Party Attendee (uncredited)
Alexandra A. Sushkova	...	Party Attendee (uncredited)
Joanna Theobalds	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Greg Worswick	...	Valet (uncredited)

Directed by
Paul Feig

Writing credits (WGA)
Kristen Wiig		(written by) &
Annie Mumolo		(written by)

Produced by
Judd Apatow	....	producer
Paul Feig	....	executive producer
Barry Mendel	....	producer
Annie Mumolo	....	co-producer
Clayton Townsend	....	producer
Kristen Wiig	....	co-producer
Lisa Yadavaia	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Michael Andrews

Cinematography by
Robert D. Yeoman		(director of photography) (as Robert Yeoman)

Film Editing by
William Kerr
Michael L. Sale		(as Mike Sale)

Casting by
Allison Jones

Production Design by
Jefferson Sage

Art Direction by
Keith P. Cunningham

Set Decoration by
Douglas A. Mowat		(as Douglas Mowat)

Costume Design by
Leesa Evans
Christine Wada

Makeup Department
David Danon	....	key hair stylist
Janine Rath	....	hair department head (as Janine Rath-Thompson)
Kate Shorter	....	key makeup artist
Heba Thorisdottir	....	makeup department head
Melanie Tooker	....	makeup artist
Jose Zamora	....	hair stylist (as Jose L. Zamora)
Allan A. Apone	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Veronica Lorenz	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Sherri Simmons	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Sherilyn Stetz	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Teresa Vest	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
K. Troy Zestos	....	additional hairstylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Barrett J. Leigh	....	production supervisor (as Barrett J. Klausman)
Lisa Rodgers	....	post-production supervisor
Clayton Townsend	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Valerie Johnson	....	second second assistant director (as Valerie C. Johnson)
Jason Melius	....	dga trainee
Matt Rebenkoff	....	first assistant director
Paul Schneider	....	second assistant director (as Paul B. Schneider)
Senica Billingsley	....	second assistant director: second unit (uncredited)

Art Department
Dale E. Anderson	....	gang boss
Steve Arnold	....	set designer
Jonathan Badillo	....	location gang boss
C. Scott Baker	....	set designer
Jason Bedig	....	leadman
Claudia Bonfe	....	buyer
Nicholas Butcher	....	propmaker
Javier Carrillo Jr.	....	location labor foreman
Alex Carrillo	....	propmaker gang boss
Javier Carrillo	....	general foreman
Jaime Castellanos	....	greensman foreman (as Jaime O. Castllanos)
Brad Curry	....	drapery foreman
Dave DeGaetano	....	construction coordinator
Darrin Denlinger	....	storyboard artist
Victor Espinoza	....	propmaker gang boss
David Falconer	....	plaster foreman (as David L. Falconer)
Zachary Fannin	....	graphic designer
Scott Field	....	propmaker
Marc Figueroa	....	greens foreman
J. Michael Glynn	....	assistant property master (as Michael Glynn)
Larry Haney	....	set dresser
Kevin J. Hill	....	propmaker
Kirk Hill	....	location gang boss
Richard Holling	....	plasterer gang boss
Bill 'Kauhane' Hoyt	....	stand-by painter (as Bill Kauhane Hoyt)
Ari Jacobs	....	art department coordinator (as Ari Jacobs Libarkin)
Scot Leczel	....	propmaker gang boss
Sean Mannion	....	property master
Kimberly Merlin	....	assistant set decorator
Jim Meyer	....	propmaker (as James Meyer)
Cesar Orozco	....	propmaker
Roger Prater	....	key greensman
Seth Rigamat	....	propmaker gang boss
Steven Rigamat	....	location foreman (as Steven W. Rigamat)
Darryl Robertshaw	....	propmaker gang boss
Nikki Rudloff	....	set decorating liaison
Brooke Sartorius	....	set dresser
Randy Severino	....	set dresser
Craig T. Shordon	....	decorator gang boss
Scott Shordon	....	decorator gang boss (as Scott P. Shordon)
Ron Sica	....	set dresser (as Ronald Sica)
John Snow	....	head paint foreman (as John W. Snow)
Meg Hyatt Snow	....	paint foreman (as Meg Snow)
Sarah Snyder	....	property assistant
Jen Stirling	....	art department assistant
Bedii Tatar	....	propmaker gang boss (as Baehi A. Tatar)
Bryan Turk	....	propmaker gang boss
Jeffry C. Voorhees	....	property assistant
Renee Lee Alito	....	construction buyer (uncredited)
Ellen Lampl	....	additional graphic designer (uncredited)
John Hammer Maxwell	....	on-set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Robert Althoff	....	dubbing recordist
George H. Anderson	....	supervising sound editor (as George Anderson)
Bill Burns	....	assistant adr editor
Jenna Dalla Riva	....	foley recordist
Chris Diamond	....	utility sound (as Christopher Diamond)
Thom 'Coach' Ehle	....	dolby sound consultant (as Thom Ehle)
Tammy Fearing	....	adr supervisor
Marc Fishman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jack Heeren	....	foley recording mixer
Scott Jacobs	....	boom operator
Adam Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Larry Kemp	....	dialogue editor
Goro Koyama	....	foley artist
Andy Malcolm	....	foley artist
Cindy Marty	....	sound effects editor
James Matheny	....	dialogue editor
Ken McLaughlin	....	production sound mixer (as Kenneth McLaughlin)
Stephen Muir	....	foley recordist
Philip Rogers	....	adr recordist
Joe Schiff	....	adr editor
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Cherie Tamai	....	first assistant sound editor
Don White	....	foley recording mixer
Greg Zimmerman	....	adr recordist
Ron Bedrosian	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Jesse Dodd	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Beauxregard Neylon	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Mark Sheffield	....	sound mix technician (uncredited)
Paul Tirone	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Rabb Whitehead	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Donald Frazee	....	special effects coordinator
Clark James	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Joshua Bolin	....	compositor: Level 256
Chris Chappell	....	lead compositor: Level 256
Scott M. Davids	....	visual effects supervisor: Level 256
David Edwards	....	matte painter: Level 256
Anthony Hays	....	visual effects coordinator: Level 256
Seth Kleinberg	....	visual effects producer: Level 256
Mark Larranaga	....	compositor: Level 256
Adam Lima	....	compositor: Level 256
Anthony Mabin	....	compositor: Level 256
David B. Wilson	....	digital effects artist (as David Wilson)
David B. Wilson	....	rotoscope artist: Level 256 (as David Wilson)
Kevin Del Colle	....	digital film scanner (uncredited)
Sean Rowe	....	digital film scanner (uncredited)

Stunts
Casey Adams	....	stunts
Jennifer Adams	....	stunts
Eddie Braun	....	stunts
Janene Carleton	....	stunts
Jack Carpenter	....	stunts
Wade Eastwood	....	stunt coordinator
Jeff Galpin	....	stunts
Jessie Graff	....	stunts
Sean Graham	....	stunts
Kristen Hance	....	stunts
Jessica Harbeck	....	stunts
Malosi Leonard	....	stunt coordinator
Heather Martin	....	stunts
Darrin Prescott	....	stunts
Marc Scizak	....	stunts
Olivia Summers	....	stunt driver
K.T. Wiegman	....	stunts
Boni Yanagisawa	....	stunts
Casey Adams	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Marc C. Geschwind	....	stunt driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Anderson	....	best boy rigging grip
Scott Baker	....	lighting technician
Jose F. Barrios	....	grip
Brian Branton	....	grip (as Brian T. Branton)
Jason Brunelle	....	rigging lighting technician
Jim Butler	....	rigging grip (as James Butler)
Brandon Carroll	....	videographer: dvd/epk
Peter Clemence	....	grip
Jeffrey A. Cook	....	dimmer board operator
Jeffrey A. Cook	....	lighting technician
Ralph Del Castillo	....	dolly grip: "b" camera (as Ralphie Del Castillo)
Carlos DePalma	....	rigging grip (as Carlos De Palma)
Kevin Erb	....	key rigging grip
Jason Gary	....	grip
Kurt Grossi	....	key grip
Quinn Grove	....	best boy grip
Chris Haarhoff	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Chris Haarhoff	....	steadicam operator
Jeff Hale	....	rigging grip
Vincent P. Hale	....	rigging grip (as Vincent Hale)
Suzanne Hanover	....	still photographer
Phil Hardt	....	lighting technician
Steve Hastings	....	rigging lighting technician
Casey Hotchkiss	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Willow Jenkins	....	video assist operator
Greg Jensen	....	lighting technician
George Kallimanis	....	rigging grip
Michael Kennedy	....	lighting technician (as Michael A. Kennedy)
Steve Koster	....	aerial director of photography
Thom Lairson	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera (as Thomas D. Lairson Jr.)
Dwight Joseph Lavers	....	dolly grip: "a" camera (as Dwight Lavers)
Gary Louzon	....	best boy rigging grip
Marc Marino	....	rigging chief lighting technician
Tony Mazzucchi	....	rigging grip (as Anthony T. Mazzucchi)
Craig Molsberry	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Chris Olsen	....	grip
Phil Powell	....	rigging grip (as Philip Powell)
Gustavo Robles	....	rigging grip
Jared Rosen	....	video playback supervisor
Aaron Schuh	....	camera loader
William Streit	....	rigging lighting technician (as William Strett)
Larissa Supplitt	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Monte Swann	....	video playback supervisor (as Monte D. Swann)
Don Telles	....	rigging grip
David Thielhart	....	assistant rigging chief lighting technician
Carlos M. Torres	....	rigging technician
Suzanne Trucks	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
John Vecchio	....	chief lighting technician
Thomas D. Watson	....	grip
Sam Wayman	....	lighting technician
Harry Zimmerman	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Megan Boundy	....	camera production assistant (uncredited)
Don Domino	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Magdalena Górka	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Keith Hueffmeier	....	camera loader: Chicago/Milwaukee (uncredited)
Matthias Lang	....	video trainee (uncredited)
Ian Myron	....	rigging electrian (uncredited)
Michael Piekutowski	....	lighting technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Ranjani Brow	....	adr voice casting
Ben Harris	....	casting associate (as Benjamin Harris)
Wendy Hoffman	....	adr voice casting (as Wendy Hoffmann)
Rich King	....	extras casting
Peter Kousakis	....	casting assistant (as Peter John Kousakis)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nancy Au	....	costume supervisor (as Nancy Capper)
Mark Avery	....	costume assistant
Carrie Bauer	....	set costumer (as Carrie Hollinger)
Sharon Fauvel	....	head ager/dyer
Ariel Gold	....	key costumer
Esther Lee	....	key costumer
Jennifer Wolf	....	set costumer
Amy Brownson	....	specialty costume fabricator (uncredited)
Kristin Einarsson	....	costumer (uncredited)
Christopher Koelsch	....	costumes (uncredited)
Lisa McDaris	....	costume assistant (uncredited)
Julie Shack	....	set costumer: day checker (uncredited)
Kim Shek	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Meagan Costello	....	assistant editor
Craig Herring	....	additional editor
Matthew W. Johnson	....	digital intermediate on-line editor
Nick Monton	....	digital intermediate producer
David Moritz	....	additional editor
Benin Mtume	....	editorial production assistant
Brian Scott Olds	....	first assistant editor
Peck Prior	....	additional editor
Mitch Rosin	....	assistant editor
Stefan Sonnenfeld	....	digital film colorist
Emily Streetz	....	assistant editor
Cheryl A. Tkach	....	post-production coordinator
Shaun Aprahamian	....	on-line editor (uncredited)
Thomas Kuo	....	digital intermediate scanner (uncredited)
Shane Lefler	....	colorist (uncredited)
Shane Lefler	....	on-line editor (uncredited)
Mathieu Reid	....	color timer (uncredited)
Laura Steiger	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Mike Andrews	....	orchestrator
Jonathan Karp	....	music editor
Jonathan Karp	....	music supervisor
Stephen Kaye	....	scoring engineer
Stephen Kaye	....	scoring mixer
Robert Walter	....	musician: keyboards
John Clement Wood	....	musician (as John Wood)
Gina Zimmitti	....	music contractor
Nick Ariondo	....	musician: accordion (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Frank Annunziata	....	driver
David Atkinson	....	dot administrator
Denny Caira	....	transportation coordinator
Karen K. Chang	....	transportation dispatcher
Wallace Frick	....	transportation captain (as Wallace G. Frick)
Danny Bress	....	driver: Jill Clayburgh (uncredited)
Erik Coutts	....	driver: cast (uncredited)
Jesse Grillo	....	driver: cast (uncredited)
Don Haggerty	....	transportation (uncredited)
Chris Haynes	....	driver (uncredited)
Chuck Martinez	....	driver: cast (uncredited)
Ron M Neil	....	driver (uncredited)
Jim Oge Jr.	....	driver (uncredited)
Richard C. Ryan	....	driver (uncredited)
Gary Thomas Williams	....	driver: Ms. Byrne (uncredited)
Robert A. Wood	....	production van driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Jesse J. Adams	....	researcher
Mark Avery	....	production assistant
Philip Banks	....	production assistant
Sarah Bastian	....	assistant: Mr. Feig
Mark Behar	....	production assistant
Brad Bell	....	assistant location manager (as Bradford F. Bell)
Taryn Benesta	....	assistant: Ms. Wiig
Ericka Bryce	....	medic (as Ericka Bryce Poniewaz)
Alyson Buoncristiani	....	assistant: Mr. Apatow
Isaac Kellman Carlen	....	production assistant
Greg Cohen	....	epk
Joann Connolly	....	production assistant
Jessica Derhammer	....	assistant: Mr. Townsend
Stacy Dollar	....	assistant: Mr. Apatow
Brett Eidelman	....	second assistant accountant
Michael Franck	....	helicopter pilot
Katy Genovese	....	payroll accountant (as Katy Tatian-Genovese)
Tobin H. Grigsby Jr.	....	asset coordinator
Tara Guckeen	....	production secretary
Matthew Hadfield	....	assistant production coordinator
J. Elizabeth Ingram	....	production coordinator
Micheal Edward King	....	production assistant (as Mike King)
Timber Kislan	....	first assistant accountant
Yarden Levo	....	production assistant
Jun C. Lin	....	key assistant location manager
Michael C. Lund	....	assistant: Mr. Apatow (as Michael Lund)
Vicki Marsik	....	medic
James Maull	....	post-production accountant (as James O. Maull)
Joseph A. Mileto	....	craft service (as Joseph Milito)
Caroline Miller	....	second assistant accountant
Travis Miller	....	production assistant
Corey Miner	....	craft service assistant
Naomi Motohashi	....	assistant location manager (as Naomi Motohashi Staley)
Brigid O'Connell	....	production assistant
Chelsea Peters	....	assistant: Mr. Apatow
KB Pugliese	....	second assistant accountant
Larry Ring	....	key assistant location manager
Fadi Sabella	....	craft service assistant
Kaushik Sampath	....	production assistant
Tammy Sandler	....	unit publicist
K.C. Schrimpl	....	production assistant
Amy Schwartz	....	consultant: tennis
Lori Scowley	....	production accountant
Nate Sherman	....	assistant: Mr. Mendel
Jonathan Siebel	....	accounting clerk
Jim Small	....	assistant location manager
Zachary Smith	....	production assistant
Frances Stafford	....	production assistant (as Franny Stafford)
Jason Suhrke	....	additional set production assistant
Chance P. Tassone	....	craft service (as Chance Tassone)
Rob Turbovsky	....	intern: Apatow
Sheila Waldron	....	script supervisor (as Sheila G. Waldron)
Boyd Wilson	....	location manager
Sterling Witzke	....	adr voices
Natalie Alexander	....	voices (uncredited)
Adam Cuthbert	....	additional production assistant (uncredited)
Nicholas Jamison	....	location scout (uncredited)
Maxim Knight	....	adr actor (uncredited)
Joshua Brian Pierce	....	asset coordinator (uncredited)
Chris Pluchar	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Travis Prow	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Raffi Simonian	....	title designer (uncredited)
Melissa Vinicor	....	stand-in: Ellie Kemper (uncredited)
Sterling Witzke	....	voices (uncredited)
Lois Yaroshefsky	....	studio teacher (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures (presents)
• Relativity Media (in association with)
• Apatow Productions

Distributors

• Universal Pictures Canada (2011) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Ro Image 2000 (2011) (Romania) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2011) (Slovenia) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2011) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2011) (Iceland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2011) (Hungary) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (2011) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Forum Cinemas (2011) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
• Solar Entertainment (2011) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Tokyo Theaters Company (2012) (Japan) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2011) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2011) (Greece) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2011) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2011) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2011) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2001) (France) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2011) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Zon Lusomundo Audiovisuais (2011) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2012) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2012) (Argentina) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Film1 (2012) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (2012) (USA) (TV)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (Greece) (DVD) (blu-ray)
• USA Network (2013) (USA) (TV) (cable)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Pictures (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Waylen Group (2011) (Taiwan) (video)

Special Effects

• Bebee (night lights)
• Nu-Salt Laser Lights Show (laser effects)
• Level 256 (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Birds & Animals Unlimited  animals (as Birds and Animals Unlimited)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Company 3  digital intermediate
• De Lane Lea  ADR recording
• Digital Media Services (DMS)  digital marketing asset management
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• EMS Payroll  extras payroll
• For Stars Catering  catering
• Intelligent Media  international monitoring agency
• Klass Security and Investigations  anti-piracy security
• Nau  main title design (as Nau/Level 256)
• Red Rhino Trailers  hair and make-up trailers
• Relativity Music Group  soundtrack
• Rich King Casting  extras casting
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• Scenechronize  production management software
• Technicolor  post-production
• Todd-AO Studios  post-production sound services

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for some strong sexuality, and language throughout

Runtime:

125 min | 131 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #46648) | Malaysia:18 (censored version) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | UK:15 | Ireland:16 | Australia:MA | Singapore:M18 | Netherlands:12 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:Btl | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Chile:TE | Brazil:14 | Japan:R15+

Filming Locations:

Orange, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Melissa McCarthy told an interviewer for "GQ" Magazine that she based the look and characterization of Megan in part on Guy Fieri, the (male) host of the show "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" (2006).

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Twice throughout the film the Officer Rhodes says the names of intersecting streets in which characters live in Milwaukee, but when the location is shown, the street signs have different names on them.

Quotes:

Megan:It's coming out of me like lava!

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 84th Annual Academy Awards (2012) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Boogaloo Annie

A hilarious and surprisingly touching comedy

My friends invited me to a preview screening of Bridesmaids last night, and I accepted the invitation with a sense of cautious optimism. The trailer for the film admittedly didn't do much for me, but I was intrigued by the concept of a female-driven Apatow film. Ultimately, I went into the theater with modest expectations, hoping to get a few good laughs out of it.

By the time we came out of the theater, my three friends and I had smiles plastered across our faces, and we couldn't stop talking about the film for the next couple hours. We all loved it. I think it easily ranks with the best of the Apatow productions, and it might even be my personal favorite. Like all of Apatow's productions, there are admittedly scenes that arguably go a little too far or a little too long, but that's a small criticism when the film successfully fires on so many other cylinders.

To start with, the film is hilarious, and I think the comedy far exceeds the standalone bits shown in the trailer. Scene after scene is filled with humorous and often sidesplitting moments, and they had the theater in an uproar during the screening. I can't say enough about Kristen Wiig. Prior to this, I've always liked her to some extent but never really loved her. I think she's good at what she does, but I wasn't sure her shtick could sustain an entire film. Would her passive aggressive wit get old? Is it the only note she can play? Can she handle anything more dramatic? Ultimately, she blew me away in this film. Not only is she consistently and uniquely funny, but her character is surprisingly well-developed, and Wiig brings the character to vibrant and dynamic life on-screen.

And this brings me to my next point about Bridesmaids: the film has a surprising amount of depth that completely caught me off guard. Bridesmaids isn't a quickie 80-minute gag fest by any stretch of the imagination; it's actually a leisurely paced 2-hour character-driven comedy that takes time to develop its characters and establish the various relationships and resultant conflicts between them. Ultimately, the film ends up being quite heartfelt and even rather sad in places. Despite the over-the-top antics shown in the trailer, the themes that the film explores are actually quite grounded. Kristen Wiig's character is someone who is feeling completely let down by life, which is a place we've all been, and the personal journey of her character resonated strongly for me. While her character is easily the most well-developed of the bunch, even the other bridesmaids ultimately show some three-dimensionality as well, despite the fact that they are sometimes initially introduced as two-dimensional caricatures.

Ultimately, Bridesmaids was one of the most enjoyable comedies I've seen in a long time. It's certainly not perfect: it could probably do with some editing, there might be a few too many subplots (some of which are left unexplored), and it arguably goes too over-the-top at times, but everything else about the film works so well that these complaints are little more than nitpicks. While I applaud everyone involved in the production, it is Kristen Wiig who deserves the most accolades. As co-writer and lead actress, she plays a huge part in the film's success, and I sincerely hope this film puts her on the Hollywood map, as I would love to see more from her in the future. Whatever the case may be, Bridesmaids certainly makes for a successful maiden voyage for her into the world of feature-film comedies.