Last night I went to see Bridesmaids with twenty of my closest gay friends (because of course I did,) and guys? You gotta check out this movie. Do it tonight if you can! It’s SUPER important that these ladies have a good weekend at the box office (read this piece in the Washington Post if you don’t believe me) and it’s genuinely the funniest movie I’ve seen in forever. It put The Hangover to shame.
Kristen Wiig is so toned down from the wild characters we normally see her play on Saturday Night Live, but she is still able to goof it up at multiple points during the movie. In fact, I would say this is less of a romcom and more of a seriously subtle spoof on the genre. All of the standard elements we’ve come to expect from these types of movies are there (romance, some light drama, et c.) but the second they have you emotionally reeled in, you’re hit with another amazing visual gag or unexpected punchline.
Of course the rest of the cast is great, too. Melissa McCarthy absolutely steals the show and is someone that I’m going to actively stalk so I can try to steal her brain (is that weird? Sorry,) and any time I see anything with Wendi McLendon-Covey, I’m pretty happy.
I figured this would be a good chance to go through some of my favorite female-driven comedies, so if you want more movie recs, click through!
These are in no particular order because that’d be like asking me to choose between my children….
She-Devil
Nary a week goes by where I’m not talking about this movie to one of my friends. Roseanne kills it as a stay-at-home mom whose husband leaves her for a romance novelist (played by Meryl Streep) and decides to do everything in her power to destroy his life while building hers back up. Just rereading that sentence makes me realize why I personally love and relate to this movie so very much, but for all of you at home who don’t have serious issues with men: Meryl Streep is funnier in this than she was in The Devil Wears Prada.
Clueless
If you don’t know that this is one of the greatest comedies of all time, than you are, as the title says, clueless. Written by Amy Heckerling and starring the once-perfect Alicia Silverstone, this movie is responsible for some of the biggest trends in clothing and language in the 90s. But don’t hold that against it! This is also why we fell in love with the late Brittany Murphy and the movie that made Alicia a star! Plus, Paul Rudd! I’m still swooning over Josh more than a decade later.
Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion
When I first saw this movie in high school, I loved it, but when I rewatch it (and rewatch it and rewatch it and rewatch it,) as an adult, I can never get over how completely brilliant this movie is. From the writing to the acting, this movie is probably one of the best comedies of the 90s and definitely had one of the better casts. I can’t even get into it. Just Netflix it ASAP and thank me later.
I so agree with She-Devil! Underrated awesome movie. I’d also offer up Death Becomes Her. You’re right about Clueless, too. Love that movie.
I agree with all of those, but what about Muriels Wedding?
Muriels Wedding? Are you kidding?
I’d offer up the First Wives Club.
The First Wives Club? Are you 60 and divorced?
Muriel’s Wedding!!!!!
Muriel’s wedding is soooo good.
This movie was AWESOME. Love it. Might even buy it!
Would you PLEASE learn how to use punctuation with parentheses? I don’t understand how you can write as frequently as you do and not IMPROVE. I’m not what I’d consider compulsive with grammar but seeing the same mistakes show up in your writing over and over and over again has irritated me this much.
There should have been a comma after “grammar”.
Dang it, I knew someone would do that. Whatever, though, I’m not claiming to be a professional writer!
:)
Sorry, the movie does not interest me in the slightest.
BTW, I am a male, I have seen female driven movies in the past.
And a friend form work took me to see the movie. I enjoyed it immensely…
:(
:)
:)