Bridesmaids
As you can see, I changed my mind. As much as I am interested in all those lovely films which came out this year, Hanukkah starts exactly at December 20th and ends 8 days later. I thought that is the perfect time frame to be doing my “daily movie game” according to the Hanukkah days this year. In other words, this means films involving a Jewish producer and/or director. There is nothing as easy as finding 8 such movies, the list of Jewish directors reads like a who-is-who in the film industry.
“Bridesmaids” is the youngest film amongst the ones I chose, and as far as I can see, it is quite reflective upon our times. “The Notebook” aside (which really is a product of nostalgy for times which are now over), “Bridesmaids” shows modern women who struggle with fairly contemporary problems and whose friendships can’t just be taken for granted. Mostly, the film is great: The movie has some likable character such as the cute boy™, it looks absolutely splendid and it had so, so many funny scenes. I enjoyed this version of a girl movie which is not afraid of boldly talking about strange sexual practices (no woman in this world likes to have a penis stare at her, there is some universal truth revealed there) and showing women puking and crapping into luxury sinks. The film made me laugh out loud several times, and I thought its humor was likable and refreshing. This is definitely not a film just for girls, despite its title, and I have to give them that.
Of course “Bridesmaids” also had a few weaknesses: I thought the main character was rather annoying, and like every other chick flick in the world, this one just had to have a silly, stupid “let’s all love each other again” ending – topped with a shitty 80s song. And finally, I wished they had given some of the characters more screentime. Ultimately it was all about Annie and her fight with Helen, and while that drives the plot in an interesting way, I thought it was unfortunate how Annie almost did not communicate with the other bridesmaids at all; they were just comical relief really.
Perhaps this is not “Superbad” and perhaps I am nothing like the characters in the film, but the film was absolutely great. I wholeheartedly recommend it, and if it’s only because of its fresh perspective on the old marriage topic which has never been treated this way before.