Should Teens Watch Bridesmaids? A Parental Guide

The 2011 comedy Bridesmaids, starring Kristen Wiig, has received positive reviews from both critics and audiences. However, the movie contains several adult themes, including sexual content, strong language, and alcohol consumption, prompting varying opinions on whether it is suitable for younger audiences. While some viewers recommend parental guidance due to the explicit content, others suggest that the movie is inappropriate for children under 13.

Sex scenes and nudity

The 2011 movie Bridesmaids opens with a three-minute-long sex scene, though no nudity is shown. There is another scene where the lead character is carried into a bedroom by a cop, and they make out and begin to take their clothes off. Sex is implied when they wake up in the same bed together the next morning. In another scene, the lead character is in bed with her boyfriend, who touches and squeezes her breasts while she wears a bra. There is also a scene where two of the bridesmaids kiss.

The film has a generous amount of curse words, including "f--k", "s--t", and "bitch". A young girl is called the "c-word" after a heated exchange, and a mother yells insults at her children. Several scenes take place at a bar, and the characters drink wine and other alcoholic beverages.

Strong language

The 2011 comedy film Bridesmaids is rated R for strong language, sexual content, brief nudity, drinking, and some violence. While the movie has received positive reviews from both adult and kid viewers, it is deemed inappropriate for 13-year-olds due to its strong language and crude content.

In addition to the strong language, the film contains several sexual references and scenes. The opening scene, for example, is a three-minute-long sex scene, and there are other instances of sexual encounters and discussions throughout the movie. While nudity is not shown, there are instances of brief nudity and sexual content, such as a woman's breasts being touched and squeezed.

The combination of strong language and sexual content in Bridesmaids makes it unsuitable for 13-year-olds. While some viewers have suggested that the film is appropriate for mature teens who are familiar with such content, others have recommended waiting until one is older to watch the movie. Ultimately, it is up to parents to decide whether their 13-year-old is mature enough to handle the strong language and crude humour in the film.

Violence

The 2011 comedy Bridesmaids, starring Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and Melissa McCarthy, is rated R and contains several instances of violence and scariness.

In one scene, a woman goes berserk at a bridal shower and attacks the decorations, cake, and tables. There is also a scene in which a medicated airplane passenger causes a commotion that prompts a federal marshal to take action. There is some discussion about where to hide a gun, and a character is tackled. The film also features angry vandalism and pushing.

In addition to these violent scenes, the film contains strong language, sexual content, and drug and alcohol use. Due to this mature content, the film is not suitable for 13-year-olds. Parental guidance and discretion are strongly advised for younger audiences.

Drinking, drugs, and smoking

The 2011 film Bridesmaids features several instances of drinking, drug use, and smoking.

Drinking

The film depicts men and women consuming wine and other alcoholic beverages at parties and in bars. One scene involves a woman drinking to the point of inebriation, stumbling, and acting erratically. Alcoholic drinks are also consumed in a bar. Additionally, a woman tells her mother that she should not attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings because she has never consumed alcohol.

Drugs

The movie includes references to illegal and prescription drugs. A woman offers another woman unidentified prescription pills, which she takes with an alcoholic drink. This leads to erratic and intoxicated behaviour. In another scene, a woman mentions that she can obtain cocaine for a party.

Smoking

While there are no explicit scenes of smoking, the film does mention smoking-related content. For example, a boy takes a contraceptive pill from a woman's purse, mistaking it for candy. The woman sarcastically warns him that something bad will happen to him if he consumes it.

Inappropriate for kids

The 2011 comedy Bridesmaids is rated R and contains content that is inappropriate for 13-year-olds. The film includes a three-minute-long sex scene at the beginning, with no nudity, that is played for laughs but is quite uncomfortable to sit through. There are also other sexual scenes, including one where two of the bridesmaids kiss, and another where a woman sexually assaults an air marshal. The film also features drug use, with one character slipping drugs into another's drink, causing erratic behaviour.

The film has a generous amount of curse words, including "f--k", "s--t", and "bitch". A young girl is called the "c-word" after a heated exchange, and a mother yells insults at her children. There is also brief nudity, drinking, and some violence.

While some parents on Common Sense Media felt the film was fine for children who are "desensitised" to sex and swearing, others recommended it for 14-year-olds and above. One parent said they watched the film with their 13-year-old and found it inappropriate, but enjoyed it when they watched it again four years later. Another parent said the swearing was "alright" and "most of the film, other than the first 3 minutes, is ok sexually speaking". However, they also said that "kids under 12 or 13 will not get the concepts of the film or see the film as gross".

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