‘Bridesmaids’ pulls a refreshing surprise

Yes, there’s a wedding in it and a lot of female characters, and even a bit of romance, but “Bridesmaids” isn’t really a chick flick in the usual sense. Nor is it a femme version of “The Hangover.” This is a movie that demands to be taken on its own terms—and it cannot be conveniently labeled, which is a good thing. We could all use a refreshing surprise now and then, and “Bridesmaids” is just that.

Directed by Paul Feig and starring “Saturday Night Live’s” Kristen Wiig, the movie centers on Annie, a thirtysomething failed bakery owner whose life is on the rocks, but who at least has the support of her best friend from childhood, Lilian (Maya Rudolph). But, then, Lilian suddenly gets herself engaged, and the bankrupt and burned-out Annie is the maid of honor.

As anyone who’s ever been part of a wedding party knows, this isn’t really a role you’d want to give to someone whose meltdown is in the offing. Adding further complication is bridesmaid number one, Helen (Rose Byrne), the glamorous wife of the groom’s boss, who’s in full takeover mode.

Painful reality

Annie doesn’t stand a chance, and she knows it—but she tries, anyway, and how it all plays is hilarious. The film is both witty and raunchy, and because it’s based on often painful reality, it is grounded, even when it’s taking scatological flight.

This is a Judd Apatow-produced film, so it takes quite a few of those “dives,” which might gross some people out; especially those who think that girls can’t be gross. Guess what? They can.

The physical results of food poisoning are the same for both sexes, but the consequences are a bit worse for those who have to endure them while wearing fancy dresses in an all-white bridal salon. (Whatever it is you’re imagining, it won’t match what you’ll see onscreen.)

“Bridesmaids” is the enactment of those disastrous scenes that play in your head when you’re stuck in a place you don’t want to be at, and socializing with people you don’t really know. You can relate to Wiig’s Annie even when she breaks down so spectacularly, because she finally does and says what you’d want to do and say if you weren’t afraid of alienating your friends.

Insecure

Wiig is a revelation. Her portrayal of a depressed and insecure person whose ragged edges are starting to show is spot-on and incredibly physical. She and Rudolph have the easy rapport of old friends. Byrne is excellent as the confident, condescending but secretly desperate Helen, and Melissa McCarthy is brilliant as Megan, easily the most original character in a movie that’s brimming with them.

The two other bridesmaids, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Ellie Kemper, do the best they can with their limited screen time. Jon Hamm has a lot of fun playing the cad, and whoever cast Irish actor, Chris O’Dowd, as Officer Nathan Rodes should be congratulated!