We’ve all been there. The lifelong friend finding the love of their life, the-trying to stay connected through pending nuptials, the pre-wedding jitters, the cost of the gowns, the competitions that arise from the other bridesmaids. Annie (Kristin Wiig) is about to become more unhinged by the moment when she’s asked to be the maid of honor to her best pal, Lillian (Maya Rudolph). As the anxiety rolls, we’re introduced to a variety of twisted-sisters who collectively have their own frustrated marriages or their delusions about the perfect one. The female version of The Hangover – this is women in wedding-countdown mode and how they handle those issues as women often do. Gown fittings, one-upping each other, engagement showers, bachelorette party, but all filtered through Annie’s crumbling world that might finally have some hope when she meets a cop (Chris O’Dowd). He attempts to ticket her for bad brake lights. Is there some irony in that? Bad breaks? But the movie goes beyond the typical popcorn fare. And that’s due wholly to Kristen Wiig. This is clearly her movie. She may have been amusing on SNL but here on the big screen she illuminates into stardom. She takes a laugh-out-loud comedy and delivers sympathy from some decent inner-glow. This generation’s Meg Ryan? Unlike other SNL colleagues, she’s a rare movie star with soul, and a really darn good and convincing actress. And speaking of good actresses, Melissa McCarthy steals the show as the hefty-sized linebacker bridesmaid who delivers every line with a punch. Literally. This is the ultimate chick flick, or the very definition of what a chick flick should be. Three and a half tiaras
