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Arts & Entertainment

'Bridesmaids' Engages As Hilarious Adult Comedy

Strong acting and script make comedy one of the best of the year.

One could make the argument that since humor is relative, Hollywood has to spew out comedy after comedy to appeal to all comedy sensibilities.  There are the romantic comedies…the kiddie comedies…the dark comedies…the teen comedies (PG-13, of course)…the mindless (AKA, stupid) comedies that usually star someone with the last name of Sandler, Carrey, Farrell, etc. 

And then, we have the always popular, always raunchy, ADULT comedies…that have pretty much become a sad staple in the multiplex ever since National Lampoon’s Animal House hit the screens in 1978.  There were the Chevy Chase Vacation movies (really only the first one could be considered an ADULT comedy, though). There were the Revenge of the Nerds movies.  There were the Police Academy movies.  There was Porky’s (yes, please…let’s not forget that American classic Porky’s (sarcasm intended)).  There were the American Pie movies.  And, most recently, there was The Hangover and The Hangover Part II

Now one (me) could make the argument that all of the aforementioned “adult” comedies could also be grouped into my mindless (stupid) comedies category.  But, again, since humor is relative, what is mindless and void of humor, to me, might be riotous and outrageously funny to others, which considering the popularity of both mindless and adult comedies--they are funny to someone. 

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My sense of humor tends to lean toward the dark…Fargo is hilarious to me…and some people find it disgusting to laugh at murder and death.  Considering my comic preference, I kept an open mind when I was talked into seeing the adult comedy Bridesmaids.  Well, I laughed my butt off…practically from start to finish.  

Some friends have asked WHY I liked it so much, if this was not my type of humor. They asked if it was because the humor was told by and about women.  Maybe.  They ask if it was just the mood I was in at the time I saw it.  Maybe.  They asked if I just needed a good laugh that night.  Maybe.  They asked if I didn’t expect ladies to be just as raunchy as guys.  Maybe.  I think all of those things contributed to my liking the film. 

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But, mostly, I think the humor here comes from the strong writing and the stellar performances…especially the performance by Melissa McCarthy as Megan.  McCarthy is so outrageous and audaciously funny that she really steals the movie. 

And, the other actresses (two SNL alums and a Damages (TV) star) rise to try and compete with McCarthy’s off-the-charts comic timing, in turn giving the audience a so-so story with quick-witted script and a top-notch comic cast. 

If you want to know about the story (and honestly, why would you?), it’s a bride and her bridesmaids…one of whom (the maid of honor) doesn’t fit in because she’s part of the bride’s “old” world (meaning poor).  And one of the “new” friends is a thorn in the maid of honor’s side…leading to many comic shenanigans.  Even if you think this might not be your kind of movie, try it.  There’s chance that you might surprise yourself like I did and love it. 

Bridesmaids: 2011, rated R, 125 minutes, directed by Paul Feig, starring Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Chris O’Dowd, Matt Lucas and Jill Clayburgh.  The Niles Public Library has this DVD on order for when it is released later in September. 

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