Bridesmaids is an American comedy film released in 2011. It was written by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, and starred Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, and Chris O'Dowd. The film follows Annie, a single woman whose life is a mess, as she becomes maid of honour for her best friend's wedding.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Did Kristen Wiig write Bridesmaids? | Yes, with Annie Mumolo |
Year of release | 2011 |
Genre | Comedy |
Director | Paul Feig |
Producers | Judd Apatow, Barry Mendel, Clayton Townsend |
Stars | Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, Chris O'Dowd |
Budget | $32.5 million |
Opening weekend earnings | $26 million |
Total earnings | Over $306 million worldwide |
What You'll Learn
Kristen Wiig co-wrote the screenplay for Bridesmaids
Kristen Wiig co-wrote the screenplay for the 2011 comedy Bridesmaids. Wiig, who also starred in the film, co-wrote the script with Annie Mumolo. The pair met at The Groundlings, a Los Angeles-based improvisational comedy troupe, in the early 2000s and wrote sketches together. The basic premise for Bridesmaids originated in 2006, after Wiig was cast in the supporting role of a passive-aggressive cable television executive in producer Judd Apatow's comedy Knocked Up. Recognising her comedic talent, Apatow asked Wiig if she had any ideas for a screenplay herself.
Wiig and Mumolo soon came up with the idea for Bridesmaids, which follows a woman who experiences a series of misfortunes after being asked to serve as the maid of honour for her best friend. Over the following years, Wiig and Mumolo worked on the script, with Wiig working on Saturday Night Live in New York City and Mumolo grinding out the script in Los Angeles. The two would meet on weekends and conduct semi-regular table reads of drafts for Apatow to get his suggestions and notes.
The film was directed by Paul Feig and produced by Apatow, Barry Mendel and Clayton Townsend. It stars Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy and Chris O'Dowd. Bridesmaids was a critical and commercial success, making $26 million in its opening weekend and eventually earning over $306 million worldwide. It was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and received multiple other accolades. In 2012, the film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Wiig and Mumolo.
Bridesmaids World: Legit or a Scam?
You may want to see also
Wiig's co-writer was Annie Mumolo
Wiig co-wrote the screenplay for Bridesmaids with her friend Annie Mumolo. The pair met at The Groundlings, an improvisational comedy troupe in Los Angeles, in the early 2000s. They wrote sketches together and eventually came up with the idea for Bridesmaids.
The basic premise for the film originated in 2006, after Wiig was cast in the supporting role of a passive-aggressive cable television executive in producer Judd Apatow's comedy film Knocked Up. Recognising her comedic talent, Apatow asked Wiig if she had any ideas for a screenplay herself. Wiig and Mumolo then began working on Bridesmaids, with Wiig writing while working on Saturday Night Live in New York City, and Mumolo grinding out the script in Los Angeles. The two would meet on weekends and conduct semi-regular table reads of drafts for Apatow to get his suggestions and notes.
The film was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and Wiig and Mumolo were nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards.
Let's Talk About Altering Bridesmaids' Dresses to Fit
You may want to see also
The film was directed by Paul Feig
Paul Feig directed the 2011 American comedy film Bridesmaids, which was written by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig. The film was Feig's first foray into directing a female-led comedy, and he expressed concern about the potential consequences of its success or failure on the future of women in film. In his own words, "There was an edict from Hollywood where they were all going, 'Okay, this is a movie starring a bunch of women. If this works, we'll greenlight more, and if it doesn't, we won't... I was really sweating because if this didn't work then I'm basically the man who killed movies for women for eternity. So, thank God it worked."
Feig's fears proved unfounded, as Bridesmaids was a critical and commercial success, making $26 million in its opening weekend and over $306 million worldwide. The film's success sparked discussions about women in comedy and has been hailed as a breakthrough for female-centred comedy and feminism. It also served as a platform for recognising women's comedic talent, with Wiig emerging as a comedy star.
The film centres on Annie Walker, played by Wiig, a single woman whose life is in disarray. When her best friend Lillian gets engaged, Annie becomes the maid of honour and must navigate the strange and expensive rituals associated with the role. She leads the group of bridesmaids through a series of mishaps and wild adventures on their journey to the wedding.
The film's success can be attributed to its combination of smart performances and scurrilous gags, offering a fresh take on the traditional buddy comedy by showcasing the insights and dynamics of women's friendships. Bridesmaids also received acclaim for its well-crafted characters and clever writing, which blended gross-out gags and pathos with honest portrayals of women's lives.
Asking Bridesmaids to a Destination Wedding: A Guide
You may want to see also
Bridesmaids was released in 2011
Bridesmaids, the 2011 comedy film starring Kristen Wiig, was released in US theatres on May 13, 2011. The film was written by Wiig and Annie Mumolo and directed by Paul Feig. It was produced by Judd Apatow, Barry Mendel, and Clayton Townsend.
The film follows Annie, a single woman whose life is in disarray, as she navigates the strange and expensive rituals associated with being the maid of honour for her lifelong best friend, Lillian's wedding. Despite her own problems, Annie is determined to make everything perfect for Lillian and leads her and the other bridesmaids through the wild ride to the wedding.
The film received positive reviews, with critics praising the smart performances and scurrilous gags, as well as the insight it offered into women's friendships. It was also a commercial success, making over $306 million worldwide and becoming the top-grossing Apatow production at the time.
The success of Bridesmaids was significant as it proved that female-driven comedies could be critically and commercially successful. It also demonstrated that women could "pull off a good fart joke as well as the next guy" and achieved the "impossible" by leading an all-female cast to blockbuster success.
The film was nominated for several awards, including two Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress for Melissa McCarthy and Best Original Screenplay for Wiig and Mumolo. It also received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and was cited as one of the best comedy films of the 21st century.
Bridesmaids' Bouquets: Choosing the Perfect Flowers for Your Girls
You may want to see also
It was produced by Judd Apatow
Judd Apatow produced the 2011 comedy film Bridesmaids, which was written by and starred Kristen Wiig. The film was a critical and commercial success, making over $306 million worldwide and receiving multiple accolades, including Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Screenplay.
Apatow's involvement in the film is notable as it sparked discussions about women in comedy and proved that female-driven comedies could be successful. In fact, Bridesmaids surpassed Apatow's previous production, Knocked Up, as the top-grossing Apatow film at the time.
Apatow's influence extended beyond the film's success at the box office. He was instrumental in recognising Wiig's comedic talent and encouraging her to develop her own screenplay. Wiig and her co-writer Annie Mumolo met with Apatow on weekends to conduct table reads and receive his suggestions and notes on the script. This collaborative process contributed to the film's eventual success.
The film's impact on the industry was significant. It demonstrated that female-led comedies could be just as successful as those led by men, if not more so. This impact is reflected in a quote from director Paul Feig, who said:
> "There was an edict from Hollywood where they were all going, 'Okay, this is a movie starring a bunch of women. If this works, we'll greenlight more, and if it doesn't, we won't... I was really sweating because if this didn't work then I'm basically the man who killed movies for women for eternity. So, thank God it worked."
Bridesmaids' success helped to pave the way for more female-driven comedies and proved that women could be just as funny and successful as their male counterparts.
Who Can Be a Bridesmaid? Exploring the Unwritten Rules
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Kristen Wiig co-wrote the screenplay for Bridesmaids with Annie Mumolo.
The film stars Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, and Chris O'Dowd.
Bridesmaids follows Annie, a woman whose life is a mess, as she becomes the maid of honour for her best friend, Lillian. She navigates the strange and expensive rituals associated with her role and competes with another bridesmaid for Lillian's attention.
Yes, Bridesmaids was a critical and commercial success. It received positive reviews, numerous award nominations, and made over $300 million worldwide.
Bridesmaids is often compared to other female-led comedies such as The House Bunny and Baby Mama.