Bridesmaids: A Rom-Com Or Not?

Bridesmaids is a 2011 comedy starring Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and Rose Byrne. The film follows Annie, a single woman who is asked to be the maid of honour for her best friend Lillian's wedding. While the film does feature a central romance and has been compared to romantic comedies, it has been described as a black comedy and is noted for its ambivalence towards marriage, which sets it apart from the starry-eyed nature of most romantic comedies.

Bridesmaids is a black comedy

Bridesmaids is a 2011 comedy film starring Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and Rose Byrne. The film follows Annie, a single woman who is asked to be the maid of honour for her best friend Lillian's wedding. While the film does feature romantic elements, it is not a romantic comedy. Instead, it has been described as a "black comedy" or "bitter black comedy".

The film focuses on the competition between Annie and another bridesmaid, Helen, over who is Lillian's best friend. This dynamic drives the central tension of the film, rather than a romantic relationship. While there is a romantic subplot involving Annie and a police officer, the primary conflict is between Annie and Helen, and the film's climax centres on the two women's friendship rather than a romantic relationship.

The film expresses a deep ambivalence towards marriage, which runs counter to the tone of most romantic comedies. It has been described as cynical and bitter, with a focus on the "unsettling reality" of getting married. The film's humour is often derived from over-the-top, grotesque scenes that are uncommon in romantic comedies.

Bridesmaids has been praised for its honest portrayal of female friendship and competition, and for its raunchy humour. It has been credited with helping to prove that female-led comedies can be successful and that women can "pull off a good fart joke".

It's female-driven

Bridesmaids is a female-driven comedy that defies the conventions of traditional romantic comedies. The film centres on the female experience, showcasing the complexities of female friendship and competition. It is written by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, and directed by Paul Feig. The lead character, Annie, is a fully-rounded, complex character, portrayed brilliantly by Wiig. The film is a departure from the norm, as it delves into the insecurities and vulnerabilities of its female characters, presenting an honest portrayal of women's experiences.

The film's central conflict revolves around the competition between Annie, the maid of honour, and Helen, a bridesmaid, both vying for the attention of the bride, Lillian. This dynamic explores the nuances of female relationships, with the women navigating jealousy, fear, and the complexities of their shared friendship with Lillian. The film's focus on female friendship and rivalry sets it apart from traditional romantic comedies, which often centre on a central heterosexual romance.

Bridesmaids also challenges the stereotypical portrayal of women in film. The female characters in Bridesmaids are multidimensional, showcasing a range of emotions and experiences. They are allowed to be funny, raunchy, and vulnerable, breaking free from the confines of one-dimensional female stereotypes often seen in cinema. The film passes the Bechdel test, showcasing female-driven storylines and demonstrating that women can be "the equal of men in vulgarity, sexual frankness, lust, vulnerability, overdrinking and insecurity".

The success of Bridesmaids has been hailed as a breakthrough for female-centred comedy and feminism. It proved that an all-female cast could achieve blockbuster success, and it sparked discussions about women in comedy. The film's impact extended beyond its comedic value, challenging societal expectations and presenting a more authentic portrayal of women on screen.

While the film does include romantic subplots and a central romance that progresses in fits and starts, the primary focus is on the female characters and their relationships with each other. The film's unique approach to exploring female dynamics, competition, and friendship sets it apart from traditional romantic comedies, solidifying its place as a groundbreaking female-driven comedy.

It's not a typical rom-com

While the 2011 film Bridesmaids does bear some of the hallmarks of a romantic comedy, it is not a typical example of the genre.

Firstly, the central conflict of the film is not a romance. The plot focuses on the competition between two women, Annie and Helen, who are both bridesmaids for their mutual friend, Lillian. The tension between Annie and Helen arises from their jealousy over who is Lillian's best friend, rather than from a romantic relationship. This sets Bridesmaids apart from traditional romantic comedies, which typically centre on the romantic relationship between two characters.

Secondly, the film expresses a deep ambivalence towards marriage, which runs counter to the tone of most romantic comedies. Rather than portraying marriage as the "absurdly giddy promise of domestic bliss" that is often seen in rom-coms, Bridesmaids presents a more cynical view. The film explores the insecurities and hostility that can threaten to derail a wedding, and the unsettling reality of getting married. This includes the challenges of maintaining friendships and the fear of being left alone. As one reviewer notes, the unique hope at the end of the film is not that the characters will live happily ever after with their romantic partners, but simply that they can remain friends.

Thirdly, while there is a romantic subplot in Bridesmaids, it is not essential to the main plot. Annie, the central character, does have a budding relationship with a local cop, Nathan Rhodes. However, this relationship is not the main source of tension or comedy in the film. In fact, one reviewer notes that you could remove this romantic subplot entirely, and the integrity of the movie would remain intact. This is in contrast to romantic comedies, where the central romantic relationship is crucial to the narrative.

Finally, the tone and structure of Bridesmaids differ from typical romantic comedies. While the film does have some of the lighthearted and comedic elements associated with rom-coms, it also contains over-the-top and grotesque scenes that are more characteristic of raunchy comedies. For example, there is a scene where the bridal party experiences food poisoning and one of the bridesmaids defecates into a wedding dress. This type of crude humour is not typically found in romantic comedies, which tend to have a more aspirational and feel-good tone.

In conclusion, while Bridesmaids does have some romantic and comedic elements, it deviates from the traditional structure and tone of a romantic comedy. The film focuses on the complex dynamics of female friendship and competition, rather than a central romantic relationship. It presents a more cynical view of marriage and includes raunchy humour that sets it apart from the typical rom-com.

It's raunchy

Bridesmaids is a raunchy spectacle. The film is full of laugh-out-loud moments, but it is the over-the-top and grotesque scenes that really stick with you. For example, there's a scene where the bridal party gets food poisoning and the bride-to-be defecates into a wedding dress in the middle of the street. There's also a scene where the protagonist, Annie, gets drunk and has a psychotic episode on a plane, forcing an emergency landing.

The film has been described as "a more or less deliberate attempt to cross the Chick Flick with the Raunch Comedy". It has been praised for proving that "women are the equal of men in vulgarity, sexual frankness, lust, vulnerability, overdrinking and insecurity".

The film's co-writer and star, Kristen Wiig, takes the female-driven comedy to new places. One scene features a conversation between Annie and her hookup buddy, in which Annie tells him she had an "adult sleepover" with him, and he replies, "Did you let him sleepover in your mouth?". Another scene shows Annie's awkward toasting competition with the bride-to-be's new, high-society friend.

Bridesmaids also features a battle between Annie and Helen, the bride's wealthy, snobby friend, over who can give the best toast at the engagement party. This results in them grabbing the mic out of each other's hands no less than eight times.

The film has been compared to The Hangover, with its raunchy comedy and motley crew of characters. However, it has also been praised for its honest portrayal of the unsettling reality of getting married, which sets it apart from other romantic comedies.

It's about friendship

Bridesmaids is a 2011 comedy film starring Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and Rose Byrne. The film follows Annie (Wiig), a single woman who works as a maid of honour for her best friend, Lillian (Rudolph), who is getting married. The plot centres on the competition between Annie and Helen (Byrne), another bridesmaid, over who is the bride's best friend. This dynamic drives the film's primary source of comedic tension, rather than a central romantic relationship.

While the film does feature romantic subplots, the core of the story is the friendship between Annie and Lillian. Their relationship is tested when Annie's insecurities and hostility threaten to derail Lillian's wedding. The film explores the complexities of female friendship and competition, with Annie and Helen's jealousy over their friendship with Lillian leading to increasingly intense conflicts.

The film also offers a unique take on marriage, presenting a more ambivalent view compared to the starry-eyed nature of traditional romantic comedies. It focuses on the reality of getting married and the fears associated with it, such as losing friends and entering unknown territory. This exploration of friendship and the complexities of adult relationships sets *Bridesmaids* apart from the typical romantic comedy.

The film's success has been attributed to its raunchy humour, honest portrayal of female friendship, and the talented performances of its cast, particularly Wiig and Rudolph. *Bridesmaids* has been praised for its well-written script and its ability to connect with audiences, offering a fresh take on female-driven comedies.

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