Movie Review: Bridesmaids Is No Chick Flick

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 12 November 2013 06:26
Written by Lupe Haas
Bridesmaids movie posterDon't let the name fool you.  BRIDESMAIDS is not a chick flick about a wedding.  Instead it's a woman's version of a bromance and a counterpart to The Hangover.

BRIDESMAIDS stars "Saturday Night Live" alums Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph as Lillian and Annie,  best friends whose friendship begins to crumble over one of Lilian's bridesmaids vying for best friend status.  Helen, played by X-Mens: First Class' Rose Byrne, is a socialite outdoing Annie, the maid of honor, in planning the wedding and bachelorette party.  Annie has lost her bakery, and is living with two annoying roommates, scraping by with the little money she has while Helen flaunts her wealth and influence.  Melissa McCarthy ("Mike & Molly"), Ellie Kemper ("The Office"), and Wendi McLendon-Covey round out the bridesmaids watching the disaster unfold in front of their very eyes.

There have been plenty of romantic comedies or dramas about women's relationship but it's always centered on a man.  In BRIDESMAIDS, men do not figure into the picture which was refreshing.  The characters come off as very real and down to earth people which makes it all the more relatable. The relationships are real but the situations are outrageous, hilarious, and often raunchy much like The Hangover but that's where the similarities end.  The characters in Bridesmaids are much more developed and in real life dilemmas.

It's no surprise BRIDESMAIDS is a strong comedy about women since the two writers are women.  Written by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, and produced by bromance movie expert Judd Apatow (Superbad, The 40-Year Virgin, Knocked Up), BRIDESMAIDS works on all levels-- storywise and the humor aspect.  It's not a very girly film as most would expect, thanks to director Paul Fieg, and the raunchiness and gross-out humor is fitting with no over the top action.  

One film that comes to mind that failed terribly as a gross-out comedy for women was The Sweetest Thing (2002) starring Cameron Diaz and Christina Applegate. It didn't work because the female characters behaved like men and no one could relate to that.  In BRIDESMAIDS, the women come off as true to life characters  that happen to be in situations that leads to toilet humor.  

While the women in BRIDESMAIDS are front and center in BRIDESMAIDS, the men are relegated to the background. The normally sauve Jon Hamm is no gentleman in BRIDESMAIDS, as Annie's friend with benefits. He calls on her only for sex and she falls for it everytime. Kristen Wiig doesn't waste any time bedding Jon Hamm at the beginning of the movie in a hilarious wham bam thank you ma'am moment that sets up Jon's character as a total douche bag. Later in the film, Annie gets a love interest played by Chris O'Dowd but the story doesn't focus on that relationship as much as friendship that is falling apart.

Funny women Kristen doesn't disappoint in the film in her first leading role and surrounds herself with an array of strong women including Maya Rudolph and the hateable Helen (Byrne).  However, Melissa McCarthy steals every scene as the butchy pearl necklace wearing bridesmaid who is very confident and sexually aggressive. She is the Kramer (from Seinfeld) of this bunch.  It is so refreshing to see an actress given a plum role, and do something that is very original,  and not look like a Barbie Doll.  Kudos to Melissa for not being afraid to go without make-up and look the worst on film for the laughs.

BRIDESMAIDS is a fun time at the movies. This is one comedy everyone can enjoy and should be a sleeper hit this summer. 

BRIDESMAIDS would make a good double feature with another release later this month - The Hangover II.

BRIDESMAIDS is now playing in theaters. Add a comment

Movie Trailer: Jumping The Broom

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 12 November 2013 06:25
Written by Lupe Haas

Julie Bowen ("Modern Family") Angela Bassett, Laz Alonso (Avatar), and Romeo star in JUMPING THE BROOM, a comedy about a family from the inner city meeting their uppercrest future-in-laws.

A collision of worlds when two African-American families from divergent socioeconomic backgrounds get together one weekend in Martha's Vineyard for a wedding.

Jumping the Broom
Release: 05/06/2011

Starring:  Angela Bassett, Paula Patton, Laz Alonso, Tasha Smith, Julie Bowen, Valarie Pettiford, Romeo Miller, DeRay Davis, With Meagan Good, And Mike Epps

Directed By: Salim Akil

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Movie Review: Thor

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 12 November 2013 06:24
Written by Lupe Haas

Thor Movie PosterChris Hemsworth, the God of Thunder from the land down under, proves himself a worthy Marvel comic book hero in THOR.

The Marvel comic book comes to life on the big screen in THOR starring a relative newcomer  from Australia alongside Academy Award-winners Anthony Hopkins and Natalie Portman.   However, it isn't the Oscar winners who stand out in THOR.

Thor Movie Trailer

In the fantastical realm of Asgard, Thor, the soon to be king, wields his hammer with great arrogance. He is powerful but immature.  When he disobeys his father, King Odin  (Hopkins) and attacks their enemy, Odin casts out the God of Thunder to live among the humans on Earth, stripping him of his powers. When he lands on Earth, he doesn't realize  he is now like the humans - just an average Joe.

Meanwhile back on Asgard, his supportive brother Loki begs his father to bring back Thor, that is until he discovers a dark secret kept from him by his father. On Earth, Thor is helped by scientist Jane Foster (Natalie  Portman) and her mentor (Stellan Skarsgard), but one of them doesn't believe his story.  

Photo Gallery: THOR Movie Stills

Aussie Chris Hemsworth certainly looks the part of a Nordic god with his God-like stature and brawny physique. At first a bearded super hero seemed far-fetched but Chris Hemsworth  wears it well.  He plays the arrogance over the top, but it works well in the story especially when he arrives on Earth proclaiming his status as a god. Those are some of the  funniest moments on screen.  When Thor realizes his errors of his way, you sort of miss  that arrogance about him and he becomes in a way dull.  Imagine Tony Stark losing some of that selfishness - boring.

Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman lacked chemistry as a potential love interest. Neither actor really clicked with each other.  It may not have been helped by the weak women roles. Natalie Portman's dialogue often times seemed cheesy and too giddy for a character that's supposed  to be a scientist. She's no Scully.

Movie Clip: Thor Stripped of Powers

The stronger relationships in THOR are between father and his two sons. Tom Hiddleston as Loki is a welcome departure as the low-key villain of the film. While Chris Hemsworth  played the arrogance over the top, Tom was very subtle in his acting. And you believe  Anthony Hopkins is this all-powerful god.  

The father/son drama plays out throughout the film and eventually that is what holds the  film together. The dramatic porton of the film clearly has actor/director Kenneth Branaugh's stamp all over it. As a thespian, Branaugh brings that Greek tragedy feel to  the action movie. Once the story leaves Asgard, we lose some of that with the human  characters who aren't as interesting or dynamic.

Once the action takes place on Earth, the tone is more humorous with a handful of laugh  out loud one-liners.  Iron Man set that tone and it carries on in this Marvel adaptation which is appropriate given these superheroes will come together in The Avengers.

THOR looked great on the IMAX 3D screen but it didn't add too much more of a viewing  experience than watching it on a 2D screen.

THOR is no Iron Man but the film is quite entertaining although silly at times but a  little of both never hurt anyone.  

And as usual, stay until the end credits for a bonus scene.

THOR is in movie theaters May 6, 2011.

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Movie Trailer: The Ledge

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 12 November 2013 06:24
Written by Lupe Haas

Liv Tyler embarks in a dangerous affair with her boss in The Ledge. Watch the movie trailer.

The Ledge also stars Patrick Wilson (The Watchmen), Terrence Howard (Iron Man), and Son's of Anarchy's Charlie Hunnam as Gavin.  Gavin begins an affair with a married woman (Tyler) and when her evangelical husband finds out, he forces him to choose between his lover's life or his own.

May 11th, 2011 (online sneak preview); May 25th (on demand); July 8th (limited)

 

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Movie Trailer: 30 Minutes Or Less

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 12 November 2013 06:24
Written by Lupe Haas

Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansariin 30 Minutes or Less movie

The Social Network's Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari and East Bound and Down's Danny McBride star in the action-comedy 30 MINUTES OR LESS, produced by Ben Stiller.  The film also stars Michael Peña (The Lincoln Lawyer).

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