10 Best Bridesmaids Moments
Annie (Kristen Wiig) is a self-diagnosed disaster. Her business was a failure, her partner left, and she spends her time chasing unsuitable men. The one ray of sunshine in her dreary life is Lillian (Maya Rudolph), but this looks set to change when Lillian accepts a marriage proposal. Lillian’s bridal party is a hodgepodge of work friends, family, Annie, and new gal-pal on the scene, Helen (Rose Byrne) – hilarity ensues.
Directed by Paul Feig, who was already known for directing successful comedies such as Knocked Up (2007) and ‘The Office’ (US), and marketed as the female antidote to Todd Phillips’ Hangover films, Bridesmaids turned out to be just as crude, just as puerile, and even funnier than what had come before.
But which moments make this comedy stand taller than its counterparts? Get your bouquets ready, because in this Movie List we at The Film Magazine present to you the 10 Best Bridesmaids Moments.
10. The Gate
Feige and company found the perfect way to introduce Annie.
The opening credits present Annie and Ted (an oddly uncredited Jon Hamm) in an extremely athletic, albeit clumsy, attempt at bumping the proverbials. But Ted isn’t Prince Charming and asks a shamefaced Annie to leave. The gate is locked, and it wouldn’t be a comedy if she could leave with her head held high.
Rather than ask for his assistance, Annie scales his gate, which quickly proves itself to be the wrong decision. Automated, it swings open with her mounted on top of it, short skirt and high heels akimbo. In just a few seconds we are shown Kristen Wiig’s physicality as an actor and Annie’s character foibles – she will literally put herself into the most awkward situations possible to avoid anything close to confrontation.
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9. Breakfast Baking
In a film of witty one-liners, slapstick and absurdity, Nathan Rhodes (Chris O’Dowd) is the straight guy. He’s romantic, sweet and kind – everything Annie won’t let herself have. After Annie and Rhodes spend their night together, Rhodes is all in immediately, and he wants Annie to bake with him. He is the antithesis to Ted and Helen as he only wants what is best for Annie. We know it, and Annie probably does too, but in a moment of true self-sabotage she ruins it and leaves.
This moment is crucial for the plot and for Annie’s growth as a character, even if it is hard to watch Chris O’Dowd’s heartbroken little face.
