We live in a male-centered entertainment world. Women will go see bromances (can we start calling them dick flicks?) or the countless action and superhero movies that Hollywood grinds out every year, yet men will not go see anything that is labeled "female" in the slightest.
Thus, as a recent Salon article mentioned, a grassroots campaign began to convince the studios that women's points of view are still worthy of being explored and yes, can be funny. Bridesmaids seems to be the golden ticket. (Although its marketing still leaves something to be desired. I recently had to correct a female friend of mine that it was not in fact, a Judd Apatow movie, but written by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo.)
It is well worth our time and money. Bridesmaids is not only funny, but gets the friendships and everyday ups and downs right.
First of all, Kristen Wiig's quirky awkwardness is almost more familiar to me than Liz Lemon. She carries herself with a slight slouch which any shy, tall girl possesses. Annie's mannerisms when she is forced into an social situation she's not entirely comfortable in remind me of numerous friends. Annie's ability to look down on herself because she's lost her job and is living at home is so familiar to me as I struggle to figure out my career path. She doesn't see herself worthy of a good relationship with a nice guy, which I've seen so many of my friends (and possibly myself) do. And feeling like you're losing your best friend? I think there have been moments in most people's lives where they can relate to that.
The Judd Apatow-ing of the movie--basically the addition of a food poisoning scene in a bridal salon--may have been a little extreme, but the rest of the comedy felt pitch perfect.
You don't see these movies anymore. Baby Mama is the last funny movie I can think of that featured two women as the leads. I think it's interesting that both of these films are about events that are female-centric (being a bridesmaid, having a child), but I don't think that should prevent males from finding them funny.
Don't let these movies become extinct.
From Salon:
Yes we can … buy tickets to a Kristen Wiig movie in an effort to persuade Hollywood that multidimensional women exist, spend money and deserve to be represented on film.
What's motivating this campaign is simple: Hollywood studios do not make comedies for or about women anymore. Yes, they used to. As recently as a few decades ago, when comedy stars like Lily Tomlin, Bette Midler and Goldie Hawn stalked through theaters alongside supporting players like Teri Garr, Carol Kane and Madeline Kahn, bringing us movies that were sometimes sublime and sometimes disposable, but which had women at their heart. Think "Private Benjamin," "9 to 5," "Outrageous Fortune," "Down and Out in Beverly Hills"…
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Salon: Seeing Bridesmaids is a social responsibility
NY Times: Can Kristen Wiig turn on the charm?
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