Junior Rasmussen
Revenge of the Bridesmaids is a 2010 romantic comedy film directed by Jim Hayman and produced by Freeform, then ABC Family. The film stars Raven-Symoné and Joanna Garcia as best friends who go undercover as bridesmaids to stop their ex-friend from marrying her friend's ex-boyfriend for money. The two women, Abigail Scanlon and Parker Wald, return to their small hometown of Lambert, Louisiana, from New York City and discover that their friend Rachel's ex-boyfriend, Tony, is engaged to their ex-friend, Caitlyn, a gold-digger who is only after Tony's money. Determined to prevent the loveless marriage, Abigail and Parker go undercover as Caitlyn's bridesmaids and, with the help of a police detective, strive to ruin the wedding while navigating obstacles, including the interference of Caitlyn's controlling mother, Olivia.
What You'll Learn
Revenge of the Bridesmaids plot
"Revenge of the Bridesmaids" is a 2010 romantic comedy film directed by Jim Hayman and produced by ABC Family. The movie stars Raven-Symoné as Abigail Scanlon and Joanna García as Parker Wald, two 29-year-old women who are best friends and return to their small hometown of Lambert, Louisiana, from New York City for a visit. During their trip, they attend a party celebrating Parker's parents' wedding anniversary and reconnect with old friends. They learn that their close friend Rachel Phipps, played by Chryssie Whitehead, is heartbroken as her ex-boyfriend, Tony Penning, is engaged to their ex-friend, gold-digger, and childhood friend, Caitlyn McNabb, played by Virginia Williams.
Intent on preventing a loveless marriage, Abigail and Parker decide to go undercover as bridesmaids in Caitlyn's bridal party to sabotage the wedding from within. They manipulate Caitlyn's original bridesmaids and get them kicked off the wedding party, making room for themselves and Rachel. Along the way, they receive help from a police detective and groomsman, Henry Kent, played by David Clayton Rogers, who Parker falls for, and they strive to navigate the challenges posed by Caitlyn's controlling mother, Olivia McNabb, played by Beth Broderick.
Abigail, Parker, and Rachel execute a series of pranks and schemes to derail the wedding plans. They discover that Caitlyn has faked a pregnancy to pressure Tony into marrying her, and they work to expose her deception. Their plans often go awry, and at one point, they are even arrested by Henry but are later released. The three friends ultimately succeed in their mission, exposing Caitlyn's true motives and reuniting Tony and Rachel. The film concludes with a happy ending, as Parker finds success in her acting career and a relationship with Henry, while Abigail publishes a bestselling book based on their adventures as undercover bridesmaids.
The movie received positive reviews, ranking among the top 5 ABC Family Original Movie premieres and winning several Teen Film/TV Series International Awards, including Best Film Made for Television and Best Comedy Film of the Year.
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The main characters
Abigail and Parker decide to go undercover as bridesmaids in order to sabotage the wedding from the inside and stop Caitlyn from marrying Tony for his money. They are aided by police detective Henry Kent, played by David Clayton Rogers, who is also a groomsman and becomes romantically involved with Parker.
Caitlyn's mother, Olivia McNabb, played by Beth Broderick, is a controlling and manipulative woman who is also after the money. She works to keep Abigail and Parker at bay and tries to sabotage their plans.
The four women were friends as children, but Caitlyn was always a "rich brat" and a bully, and the other three were blinded by her family's wealth. As adults, Abigail is a published novelist, Parker is an actress, and Rachel is the "shy one" who never left their hometown.
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The film's release
Revenge of the Bridesmaids premiered on ABC Family on July 18, 2010, attracting 2.55 million viewers and placing it in the top 5 "highest-rated" ABC Family Original Movie premieres. The film was directed by Jim Hayman and starred Raven-Symoné and Joanna Garcia in the leading roles of Abigail Scanlon and Parker Wald, respectively. The supporting cast included Virginia Williams, Beth Broderick, Chryssie Whitehead, David Clayton Rogers, Lyle Brocato, and Brittany Ishibashi.
Filming for Revenge of the Bridesmaids took place in April 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the Opera Guild Home (previously the Davis-Seybold Mansion) and the Houmas House in Burnside, Louisiana. The film's release was well-received, with the premiere drawing a substantial audience and positive reviews from viewers. The movie's success led to its subsequent release on DVD in the United States on April 26, 2011.
In addition to its commercial success, Revenge of the Bridesmaids also garnered critical acclaim and received several accolades. It won the Teen Film/TV Series International Awards for Best Film Made for Television and Best Comedy Film of the Year. The lead actresses, Raven-Symoné and Joanna Garcia, were recognised for their performances, both winning the award for Best Actress in a Lead Role in a Comedy Film. The film also received a nomination for the People's Choice Awards 2011 in the category of Favorite Family TV Movie.
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Critical reception
However, reviews on Rotten Tomatoes were more polarised, with some viewers calling it "ABC Family garbage" and a "pitiful excuse to call this cinema", while others praised it as a "great feel-good movie" and a "classic chick flick". One review on IMDB called it a "fun, family-friendly movie" that was "entertaining throughout".
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Themes and motifs
The 2010 romantic comedy "Revenge of the Bridesmaids" explores several themes and motifs throughout its narrative. One of the central themes is the power of female friendship and solidarity. The film centres around two best friends, Abigail and Parker, who return to their small hometown and discover that their friend Rachel has lost her true love, Tony, to a conniving gold-digger, Caitlyn. The three women band together to stop the impending loveless marriage by going undercover as bridesmaids and sabotaging the wedding. This sisterhood and unity among the female characters are a driving force of the film and showcase the strength that comes from female camaraderie and collaboration.
Another theme evident in the film is the importance of true love and marriage based on genuine affection rather than material gain. The plot revolves around preventing a marriage that is not rooted in love, with Caitlyn portrayed as a gold-digger who is only interested in Tony's money. In contrast, Rachel and Tony's relationship is depicted as a pure and heartfelt romance. This theme underscores the value of authentic connections and the belief that love should be the primary foundation of a marriage.
The film also touches on the motif of returning home and confronting one's past. Abigail and Parker's journey back to their small hometown brings them face-to-face with old friends and memories. This homecoming sets the stage for the film's events and allows the characters to reflect on their childhood dynamics and the impact of their upbringing. The small-town setting adds a sense of familiarity and nostalgia, enhancing the theme of revisiting one's roots.
Additionally, the film explores the dynamics of family and parental influence. Caitlyn and her mother, Olivia, have a complex relationship, with Olivia portrayed as a controlling and manipulative influence on her daughter. The film suggests that Caitlyn's behaviour and motivations are shaped by her mother's values and priorities, highlighting the intergenerational transmission of values and the potential for parental figures to shape their children's outlook and choices.
The concept of social class and economic disparity is also woven into the narrative. Caitlyn and her mother, Olivia, are presented as social climbers, driven by the desire to maintain their wealth and social status. This theme adds a layer of complexity to the story, exploring the lengths to which people will go to preserve their financial security and the impact of economic pressures on decision-making.
Overall, "Revenge of the Bridesmaids" intertwines these themes and motifs to create a narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, offering a blend of humour, friendship, and reflection on the complexities of human relationships and motivations.
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Frequently asked questions
The plot of Revenge of the Bridesmaids centres around two women, Abigail Scanlon and Parker Wald, who return to their small hometown and discover that their friend Rachel's ex-boyfriend, Tony, is engaged to their ex-friend, Caitlyn. The women decide to go undercover as bridesmaids and sabotage the wedding.
The main conflict in Revenge of the Bridesmaids is that the main characters, Abigail and Parker, are trying to prevent a loveless marriage between their ex-friend, Caitlyn, and the love of their friend Rachel's life, Tony. They believe that Caitlyn is a gold-digger who is only marrying Tony for his money.
One of the main challenges the women face is that Caitlyn's mother, Olivia, is suspicious of them and tries to sabotage their plans. Additionally, Parker falls for the town detective, Henry Kent, who may not be able to overlook any criminal activity.
In the end, the women's plans to sabotage the wedding are successful. They expose Caitlyn's fake pregnancy and true intentions, leading to the cancellation of the wedding. Tony proposes to Rachel, and they get married with Abigail and Parker as their bridesmaids.
