Bridesmaids

So I saw this movie a few weeks ago... twice. The first was with my boyfriend who was cool enough to take me to see it, even though it was technically promoted as a "chick flick", and the second time, the next night with one of my best friends. She called me and asked if I wanted to see it, and I absolutely wanted to see it again. Now, if you know me at all, you know I have NO problem seeing a movie of any sort more than once, because it lets me pick it apart more each time I see it. Well, that's exactly what happened here. The first time I saw this movie, I was so terribly entertained that I had no capacity to break it down. The second time around however, I was able see it for more of what it was. It's more than a ridiculous and (in some cases) accurate portrayal of the wedding process on the female side of the spectrum. While movies like "The Hangover" show a parody of what a man's pre-nuptial experience is like, "Bridesmaids" portrays the pre-wedding festivities from the female's perspective.

THE PLOT:
This somewhat predictable basic plot consists of two friends, one, in a relationship, unsure of where it is going, which surprisingly ends up in an engagement. The second friend, a very lost, beaten down woman who has recently had her dreams shattered by a failing economy and who has a steady hook-up plan with the stereotypical playboy, but no steady relationship except with her best friend. The spark in the plot is when Lillian (the friend in the steady relationship, played by the hilarious Maya Rudolf from SNL) gets engaged. Her hot-mess-of-a-friend, Annie, whom she has been friends with her entire life, is naturally expected to be the MOH (Maid of Honor). The conflict comes in at the posh engagement party when Lillian's new friend, Helen, steps in and begins the process of pushing Annie out of the wedding party. Meanwhile, because she is less than financially able at this point, Annie has neglected many necessary things in her life. One of these being the non-functioning taillights to her 1992 POS coupe. Consequently, she is pulled over by an awkwardly handsome Irish cop with whom she strikes up a relationship with.

Now, like I said, the first time I saw this movie, I laughed until I cried. The combination of relatable situations and shitting in the street was just too good. The second time I saw it is when I realized that there was more to this movie than just the shenanigans of a MOH dealing with a major life change, as well as potentially losing her best friend to a rich, spoiled, and fake woman with no other friends.

The actual main plight of this film is a woman who has faced trials professionally, and has been beaten down so long in her personal life, she doesn't really know a good thing when she sees it. I guess you could say that she has been mistreated for so long and has come to accept it, she really takes for granted something great when it comes her way. She seems to settle for something that's far below what she deserves in exchange for something that has extraordinary potential.

In contrast to other movies of this nature, this film portrays something that women actually deal with. So often we assume that what we have, especially when the chips are down, is what we deserve, when in reality, what is in front of us is infinitely better and we don't even see it. The main moral of the film is being able to find the good in life, and sticking with those, through thick and thin, who have been with you all along. Sometimes those who know us the best are the most accurate mirrors to show us who we are and who we are destined to be. Needless to say, I think this movie was great, not JUST for girls, but guys will enjoy this one as well. It's got enough crude "poop" humor to keep any guy entertained! A solid A!