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Annie (Kristen Wiig), left, takes on her competition Helen (Rose Byrne) during a shower testimonial in “Bridesmaids.” |
Judd Apatow comedies might be infamous for their gross-out humor involving vile bodily fluids, but they still connect with us because of the utter humanness of their characters, poor souls caught up in their outrageous plots.
“Bridesmaids” — an Apatow production directed by Paul Feig — produces frequent waves of hilarious vulgarity as it tells a sweet, endearing story about a woman suffering through a pre-mid-life crisis.
Annie, played by “Saturday Night Live” star Kristen Wiig, hears both her biological and chronological clocks ticking even louder when her lifelong best friend Lillian (“SNL” star Maya Rudolph) announces she’s getting married.
Annie’s cupcake business went bust during the economic collapse, and she now lives with her irritatingly supportive mother (the late Jill Clayburgh in her final screen appearance).
Annie’s romantic life has gone bust, too. She’s been reduced to casual encounters with a married sleaze (“Mad Men” star Jon Hamm) who treats Annie with all the affection of an office visitor.
Annie feels happy for Lillian, but realizes that now she’ll be alone. Really alone.
It doesn’t help that Lillian is marrying into a much higher tax bracket with Dougie (Tim Heidecker), and that a member of his social circle, Helen (Rose Byrne), decides that she should be Lillian’s new best friend and maid of honor. (Read more…)