Bridesmaids (Brockway)

Tropic Sprockets by Ian Brockway

Bridesmaids

Men have had an unfair monopoly on indie-produced "raunchy" comedies.
That is until now.

Kristin Wiig of "Saturday Night Live" co-wrote and stars in this comedy about a well-meaning goofy baker Annie Walker, trying to make sense of her life in a marriage-based society. Kristen Wiig has a wonderful comic persona. Annie is like a female Steve Carell character: self
deprecating but also brutally frank and full of taboo. In her attitude and zany movement, at times more slapstick than slapstick, she resembles a young Carol Burnett. Wiig fills the screen with her earnest quirky presence, translating the Judd Apatow inspired humor for a female audience.

Right from the get-go, we see Annie face obstacle after obstacle: a selfish and egotistical boy friend with no sensitivity, (John Hamm) an out of business cake shop and a best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) who grows increasingly distant.

It doesn't take much to know that Annie is in for it.

Again and again, the comedy arises from Annie, gangly and slightly spaced out wanting to do the right thing. Then when she realizes she can't, she just says the Hell with it. The joy is in watching Wiig let go.

Aside from the bathroom sequence which could have been cut without any lessening of impact, the film remains consistent throughout, getting its laugh from human interaction rather then cheap pratfalls. The bridal shower scene alone is destined to be a classic of its kind. As soon as Kristen Wiig heads for the chocolate fountain even the late Luis Bunuel himself might have started smirking for all his ridicule in disgust regarding the Bourgeoisie. The Paris facades in this film have to be seen to be believed.

A stand out performance is Melissa McCarthy ( Tv's Mike & Molly) as the butch deadpan Megan. Not since John Waters has there been a character portrayed so outrageously but yet so sincere in the human comedy.

The film directed by Paul Feig bears a strong narrative progression from the films of producer Judd Apatow: A zany and childish soul must own up to her errors. The ways of Raunch in this film and in others, notably "Knocked Up" and " The 40 Year Old Virgin" are paved with the best of adolescent intentions. This is Apatow's trademark and we get it. Through Kirsten Wiig's fresh writing however, this seasoned coming- into-age tale has some dazzling curves.

Write Ian at redtv_2005@yahoo.com