Deborah Chan
Bridesmaids is a 2011 comedy film starring Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, Chris O'Dowd, Jon Hamm, and Rebel Wilson. The film was directed by Paul Feig and written by Annie Mumolo and Wiig. It follows a group of bridesmaids in the lead-up to their friend's wedding and is packed with memorable, over-the-top humour. The film is also notable for its female-led cast, which was a rarity in comedy films at the time. In fact, the director, Feig, has said that the film faced external pressure to succeed, with the suggestion that if it didn't do well, women may never star in movies again.
Improvisation played a large part in the filming of Bridesmaids. Feig has said that he always does an improv section during auditions, and that he gave the cast a lot of freedom to improvise during filming. McCarthy, in particular, was given free rein to ad-lib, with Feig saying that McCarthy came in with this character that was just a force of nature. One of the funniest lines in the film, I'd climb that like a tree, was improvised by McCarthy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amount of improvisation | A lot |
| Director's approach to improvisation | Director Paul Feig used two cameras to capture both actors in a two-way conversation, allowing for simultaneous improvisation |
| Director's view on improvisation | "We do so much improv and throw so many curve balls at the actors while they’re performing that we record both sides of the conversation at the same time. You have these amazing moments that happen and if you’ve only got one side of it, it’s impossible to re-create it again on the other side; you lose that first-time magic. This type of comedy is never the same when you say it twice." |
| Actors with improvisation backgrounds | Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo, Maya Rudolph, Wendi McLendon-Covey, and Ben Falcone |
| Improvised scenes | The plane ride, the food poisoning scene, the dress shop owner scene, the Brazilian restaurant scene |
| Improvised lines | "I would climb that like a tree", "Give me your fucking jacket!", "Do you like this leg? I got another one just like it. I can put them both over my head and comb my goddamn hair." |
What You'll Learn
Melissa McCarthy's ad-libbed lines
Bridesmaids is a hilarious film about a group of bridesmaids and their crazy adventures while preparing for their friend's wedding. The film is directed by Paul Feig and stars Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, and Melissa McCarthy, among others. McCarthy plays Megan Price, the foul-mouthed, flirtatious, and confident sister of the groom. McCarthy is a talented comedic actress who has proven time and again that she can make her characters unforgettable. She won an Emmy Award for her role in the TV series Mike & Molly and was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in Can You Ever Forgive Me?
McCarthy's comedic instincts and quick wit contributed to some of the funniest and most memorable moments in Bridesmaids. During a PopSugar discussion with Octavia Spencer, McCarthy revealed that she ad-libbed a line in her first scene in the film. In the scene, McCarthy's character, Megan, talks to Annie Walker (played by Kristen Wiig) about a guy, commenting that she would "climb that like a tree" after finding out he is single. McCarthy recalled feeling bad for the background actor playing the single guy, saying, "I remember the poor gentleman. All he did was pass and I said that. He was just a sweet gentleman in the background and he made a cross in front of me and I thought 'That seems like the right thing to say.'"
In addition to this memorable ad-lib, McCarthy also improvised one of the most emotional scenes in the film. In the scene, Megan shows up at Annie's house to give her a pep talk after a big fight with the bride-to-be, Lillian (Maya Rudolph). Originally, this scene was supposed to feature a collection-agency worker reading Annie "the riot act on her life." However, once McCarthy was cast in the role of Megan, the scene was rewritten to include her character. During the filming of the scene, McCarthy began ad-libbing, adding in lines about how rich Megan is, having the highest government security clearance codes, and having firecrackers thrown at her head in high school. These improvised lines contributed to the emotional depth of the scene and showcased McCarthy's range as an actress.
The Brazilian restaurant scene, where Helen talks about her big house, also featured some of McCarthy's comedic improvisations. She goes on a tangent about how she needs to offer people a place to stay because there's a squirrel infestation at her house, and a squirrel had burrowed into her vagina and was living there. While this particular ad-lib didn't make it into the final cut of the film, it showcases McCarthy's willingness to take risks and go to extreme places for the sake of comedy.
Overall, McCarthy's ad-libbed lines and improvisational skills added to the hilarity and heart of Bridesmaids, and her performance as Megan is a testament to her talent and comedic timing.
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The Brazilian restaurant scene
In the scene, Helen talks about her big house and how people can stay with her if they want. Melissa McCarthy's character, Megan, goes on a tangent about how she needs to do the same because there's a squirrel infestation at her house, and a squirrel had burrowed into her vagina and was living there. This part was improvised by McCarthy and didn't make it into the final cut of the film, although it made director Paul Feig "laugh so hard".
The scene was shot over two days and required a lot of preparation to get right. Feig and the prop master made the vomit from a mixture of oatmeal, yogurt, and carrot juice, with Feig revealing that "there are many different consistencies of vomit". The set was designed to be the worst place possible to get sick, with everything being white and expensive, including fancy plush carpeting.
The scene was also carefully choreographed to ensure that the comedy came from how the characters handled their illness rather than the illness itself. Feig wanted to avoid making the scene juvenile or exploitative, and so made the decision to avoid including sound effects during Megan's bathroom moment.
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The plane ride scene
According to Feig, the scene was one of his favourites to shoot, as Kristen Wiig, who played Annie, would do something different in each take. He recalled how Wiig would always come up with something new, whether it was a new stage of drunkenness or a new level of aggressiveness towards Helen. One of Feig's favourite moments was when Annie does a weird hip swing upon arriving in first class.
The scene also featured ad-libs from Mitch Silpa, who played the flight attendant, Steve. Silpa and Wiig knew each other from The Groundlings and had a great comedic dynamic, with Silpa playing the straight man to Wiig's outrageous behaviour.
Overall, the plane ride scene in Bridesmaids was a highly improvised and collaborative effort, with the cast and crew working together to create a hilarious and memorable sequence.
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The food poisoning scene
The scene replaced a fantasy sequence in the original script, where Annie tries on a dress and daydreams of being in a castle with Christian Bale. However, due to concerns about getting Christian Bale to be in the scene and the desire for a "harder comedy" scene, co-writers Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig removed the fantasy sequence and wrote the food poisoning scene in one weekend.
Director Paul Feig revealed that the scene was heavily scripted, with little room for improvisation due to the large number of people involved. However, Kristen Wiig added some physical comedy to her performance, including spritzing her face with Evian to mimic cold sweats, which escalated throughout the scene.
The scene was shot in two days, with one day dedicated to the dress shop and the other to the bathroom. Feig also shot more conservative versions of the scene, including one where Megan (Melissa McCarthy) vomits down the front of her dress. There were also more extreme versions of the scene that were ultimately cut, such as one where Becca (Ellie Kemper) projectile vomits across a beautiful white office and onto a wedding photo.
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The engagement party scene
The scene begins with Annie (Kristen Wiig) arriving at the elegant country club where the engagement party is being held. She is greeted by Lillian (Maya Rudolph), the bride-to-be and Annie's best friend. Annie feels out of place and awkward, especially when she realises that most of the other bridesmaids are wealthy and sophisticated.
The scene introduces the audience to the other bridesmaids, including the confident and flirtatious Megan (Melissa McCarthy), the elegant and wealthy Helen (Rose Byrne), and the down-to-earth and friendly Becca (Ellie Kemper). The scene also includes some hilarious physical comedy, such as when Annie accidentally spills her drink on herself and has to cover it up.
The highlight of the scene, however, is the interaction between Annie and Helen. Helen, who is wealthy and sophisticated, tries to assert her dominance over Annie, who is more down-to-earth and relatable. She makes comments about Annie's appearance and behaviour, trying to make her feel inferior. However, Annie stands up for herself and delivers some witty comebacks, showing that she won't be walked over.
The scene also includes some physical comedy, such as when Annie accidentally bumps into a waiter and spills her drink on herself. She tries to cover it up, but it only makes the situation more awkward and hilarious.
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Frequently asked questions
A lot of the film Bridesmaids was improvised. Director Paul Feig encouraged improvisation, and the cast was given a lot of freedom to ad-lib. The actors would often improvise during rehearsals, and a stenographer would type up everything that was said. This would then be used to create new pages of script.
Yes, Melissa McCarthy improvised many of her lines. McCarthy is a skilled improviser and comedian, and director Paul Feig gave her free rein to improvise. McCarthy's improvisational skills are evident in the plane scene, where she talks about putting a Nano up someone's butt.
Yes, many of the cast members had a background in improv and were given the freedom to ad-lib. Rose Byrne improvised part of her engagement party speech in Thai, and Wendi McLendon-Covey improvised a lot of her lines by listing off various antidepressants she was taking.
Yes, the food poisoning scene was not in the original script. It was added during production at the suggestion of producer Judd Apatow and director Paul Feig, who encouraged writers Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig to include some wild physical comedy in the film.
Yes, there were a few scenes that were improvised and then cut from the film. One scene that was cut involved Paul Rudd's character going on a blind date with Annie. Another scene that was written but never filmed involved the bridesmaids finding a random dead body and then abandoning it.
