Bridesmaids: Just As Funny As You'd Hoped

Everytime a much hyped US comedy appears on my radar I find myself getting excited and wary in equal measure. I don't know about you but I find myself regularly disappointed by many flagship comedies. The Hangover left me cold and while I was huge fan of Judd Apatow's TV work (including the oft overlooked teen dramedy Undeclared) many of his own films and produced by efforts let me wanting. One thing in particular grated on me, how such supposedly witty films consistently painted the female characters as shrill, one note harpies with no redeeming qualities.

Bridesmaid is from the same stable but takes a way more female friendly perspective on things. Co-written by it's star and SNL alum Kristen Wiig and actress/screenwriter Annie Mumlo, it had set tongues wagging before it had even set foot in cinemas. Industry sniping about female orientated comedies, hopeful bloggers expecting a feminist friendly flick and more importantly an actress like Wiig, unproven at the US box office opening her first major film.. Bridesmaids had alot resting on it's shoulders. Thankfully it has delivered on it's promise in spades with critical buzz abound in the US and a box office gross well over 100 million dollars.

And so it flies into Irish cinemas on a bed of hype. This was where I start to get nervous. How will it live up the any of my expectations? The trailer impressed and the wealth of talent involved gave me increasingly high hopes. I was lucky enough to view the movie at the Irish premiere. With some of the stars in attendance and a full house it was sort of the perfect way to view it with the big laughs and pithy script drawing many a belly laugh from the capacity crowd.

The plot is relatively simple. Permanently down at heel Annie is asked to be the bridesmaid of best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) for her forthcoming nuptials. Soon she has to contend with a rag tag group of friends in the bridal party, spearheaded by the neurotic and hyper efficient Helen (played with aplomb by Rose Byrne) and Lillian's future sister in law the gruff, boisterous Megan (Melissa McCarthy gleefully playing against type).  Alongside this is the presence of two very different men in her life, the caddish casual sex buddy (John Hamm) and the earnest cop who seems to have her best interests at heart (Chris O'Dowd, who oozes charm throughout). To say anymore would ruin many of the surprises but suffice to say there are plenty of painfully funny scenes scattered through the proceedings.

The movie was reportedly improvised heavily off of the original script and that loose, chaotic vibe gives the film plenty of verve. Not only that but it manages to flesh out it's characters too. Too many comedies reduce characters to ciphers in pursuit of big laughs. Bridesmaids deftly brings to life it's motley crew of stifled mothers, repressed newlyweds and life long friends with some quiet character moments dropped in alongside the raucous gross out material. Without resorting to Sex and the City style over emoting, Bridesmaids serves up a tale of messed up, confused women groping for some sort of sense in the whirlwind of marriage. But despite this it's not a "chick flick". It has been a bit painful to see the moviemakers insist that this isn't just a "women's film". But, ultimately they're right. Bridesmaids is undoubtedly female orientated but also a brilliant character piece and more importantly very very funny in it's own right.

Bridesmaids is a pure joy to behold, gleefully playing with expectations and also serving up a seemingly endless stream of priceless moments. You owe it yourself to see this film. 

The Last 2 Movies I've Seen: No. 2: X-Men : First Class

To conclude my exciting new segment The Last 2 Movies I've Seen (ha) here are my thoughts on the new X-Men prequel (which of course many of you have already seen. Always up to date, that's me). 

X-Men: First Class

I have been a huge X-Men fan for years. I spent years regularly reading the comics, particularly enjoying the Chris Claremont/John Byrne run which is still my absolute favourite. As such, I've always had a soft spot for the X-Men movies. I remember watching the comics I'd spent so long reading finally crossing beyond the mainstream following of the cartoon to an older, cinema going audience. 

It's easy to forget just how important the first X-Men movie was. Reinvigorating the comic book movie franchise and making Marvel see the film potential of it's vast back catalogue, it was a slick piece of fantasy filmmaking that lead to an equally impressive sequel. Sadly the third film derailed the whole enterprise. After the assured direction of Bryan Singer, X3 fell flat at the hands of Brett Ratner, who delivered a serviceable action film but one with none of the depth of the previous films. I've avoided the Wolverine prequel since it's release awhile back purely because I couldn't further taint my X-Men movie memories. Thank god then for First Class which attempts to bring the series back to it's roots.

For the most part it can be seen as a success. Getting into the backstory of both Professor X and Magneto is a stroke of genius, fleshing out both characters while providing more screen time for fan faves such as Mystique, Moira McTaggert, Beast and Emma Frost. 

Following a 40s based prologue, the plot unfolds in the early 60s and sees a pre-Magneto Eric Lensherr (Michael Fassbender) out for the blood of the man who tortured him and his family in the Nazi concentration camps. Meanwhile a young Professor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) spends time drinking, womanising and acting the cad alongside his best friend Raven (soon to be Mystique, played with aplomb by Jennifer Lawrence). When the US government, at the behest of Rose Byrne's Moira McTaggert, realise they need a genetic mutation expert, Xavier is drafted in, convincing Eric to join him when their paths cross in pursuit of Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon). What follows is an a race to stop World War 3 with plenty of interpersonal drama scattered along the way.

Thankfully the solid storytelling of the previous films returns here. Director Matthew Vaughn, originally slated to direct X3 and famed director of Kick Ass (among others), injects the affair with plenty of energy. Weaving together characters with aplomb, First Class creates an impressive story with some excellent casting giving things a gravitas sometimes missing from comic book movies. 

Jennifer Lawrence is particularly good, slowly peeling away the layers of Mystique to make you understand why she ends up the way she does. That said, the double act of Fassbender and McAvoy steals the show. Both ooze leading man confidence tempered with an unusual amount of vulnerability that gives their friendship a earthy, believable air. Rose Byrne is likeable and convincing though underused, Nicholas Hoult does a good line in tortured geek, Kevin Bacon glowers magnificently as the villainous Shaw but sadly January Jones fails to convince as the icy Emma Frost, instead coming across as wooden and uncomfortable.

The 60s setting and grandeur of the proceedings lead to the odd uncomfortably cheesy moment but for the most part this is tonally on the button. The action sequences and CGI are full on and enjoyable with the solid storytelling and characters giving proceedings an emotional impact beyond your usual blockbuster. And unlike X3 which groaned under the weight of too many characters, First Class does a fine job of having many mutants and enough moments scattered throughout for everybody to shine.

Undoubtedly a return to form, X-Men : First Class is a fitting entry into the series and a brilliant summer blockbuster in it's own right. It'll be interesting to see just where the series goes next but for now Matthew Vaughn can be proud of creating a film that will tick the boxes for comic book geeks and general movie-goers alike. 

Given that this is a prequel much of the fun is in watching the proceedings build towards certain key moments. Vaughn understands this and offers plenty of fan friendly moments.

The Last 2 Movies I've Seen: No. 1: Last Night

I seem to be on a roll of seeing movies in the actual cinema of late. I'm mildly impressed with myself and have decided to review whatever I see in an attempt to make myself see more movies. I'm bullying myself basically.

Last Night

Myself and my flatmate watched the trailer for this only last week and suddenly I realised it was out in the cinema. Can't you tell that I'm on top of my movie news? Ahem. Anyway, the subtly sexy trailer and strong cast really made me want to see how it would all unfold. 

A low key relationship drama, it sees young couple Joanna (Keira Knightley) and Michael (Sam Worthington) squabble over Michael's interest in a glamourous new co-worker Laura (Eva Mendes), before he heads on a business trip. While Michael spends time away from home Joanna bumps into an old flame Alex (Guillaume Canet) and soon finds herself ruminating on a love affair that never was while her husband flirts with temptation. 

The plot, what little there is, does not neccessarily drive this slow burning romantic drama. Ultimately, despite some neat cameos, this is a foursome with Knightley and Canet weaving flirtatious rings around each other while Worthington and Mendes hammer out a tentative but intense bond. Last Night isn't afraid to play with audience expectations and build tension and once it gets past a stiff and overly talk opening act, it crafts plenty of romantic and melancholic moments. 

Knightley and Worthington clash more than they sizzle as a couple but once they meet their respective temptations that seems to be the point. Both Joanna and Michael reveal whole new sides to their personalities when they meet their prospective lovers. But, this isn't a movie about a couple cheating on each other and to say any more would ruin much of the enjoyment. 

What this film does deliver is a engrossing portrait of love and desire and lets a fine ensemble play to their strengths. Knightley is jittery and beguiling as she revels in the easy charm of Canet's character while Worthington plays an emotionally complex male understandbly unnerved by the confident yet subtle sexuality of Mendes' Laura. Writer/director Massy Tadjedin has created a movie that doesn't patronise the audience and so you'll find yourself playing out a fair few moral dilemmas in your own head throughout.

A clear attempt at counter programming a summer of noisy action flicks, boisterous comedies and superhero flicks Last Night is an intelligent and powerful drama piece. While not quite as clever as it likes to think it is it offers up some interesting characters and has a hypnotic, easy rhythm that will draw you in. 

Sex and The City 2: Not All Bad

Sex and the City 2 was never going to go down well with the critics was it? The series has for whatever reason raised the ire of many a writer since it made the jump to big screen. Those lambasting the films for being eye roll inducing cliché fests seem to be missing the point. As much as I loved the TV show I rarely made my way through an episode without wanting to shake Carrie or roll my eyes. The hard part about adapting a TV series to the big screen is that while the good stuff is undoubtedly there and ten times bigger the flaws work in the same way.

The main bug-bear is the hysterical lack of a plot and the bloated running time. Much has been made as this film was being developed that it was a romp, a joyful celebration of the humour and fun of Sex and the City as opposed to the rather over serious world of the first film which had a worthy feel that was hard to enjoy at times.

That is evident in the carefree nature of the film and it’s plotting (or lack thereof). But it’s not in the sense that it’s a good hour too long. If this really wanted to be a romp it would have clocked in at 90 minutes or under.

Also glimmers of decent ideas are thrown away in order to service the much-vaunted Abu Dhabai adventure mid way through. The 80s flashback sequences which had paprazzi abuzz last year are in fact painfully brief. There’s a neat moment where Carrie discusses how she meets each of the girls that is touched on far too briefly. How much more fun would it have been to play with some of the original roles the girls had in the big city in the 80s?

The film tries to take on the idea of marriage and domesticity with varying results. Carrie is as petulant as ever but the kernel of her problem with Big, that they’ll become mundane, is certainly an interesting idea. Charlotte finally gets to do something other than crap her pants and although it’s briefs her few serious moments are beautifully played. In particular her brilliant scene with Miranda where they laugh, cry and have a cosmo over the travails of motherhood is one of the highlights of the movie.

Speaking of, Miranda is on some kind of endorphins rush the whole film that makes her act completely out of character, she’s joyous, happy without a care in the world. She’s not Miranda basically. Samantha meanwhile is free of anything ridiculous like character development or depth instead happy to throw out ridiculous puns and be oversexed to the point of delusion.

Still, I could sit here all day and moan about the huge flaws but the film made me smile, it swept me up onto planet Sex and the City and that made it worth my time. I’m assuming the rather poor reception and box office for this film means the number 3 is unlikely but if you’re happy to check in with the girls again (despite how in or out of character they may be) then it is worth a look. Just keep your expectations low. And get ready for puns. Lots of puns.

With that mind I can’t help but feel that Sex and the City 2 is nowhere near as bad as you’re being lead to believe. In fact it’s quite good fun. There are plenty of funny moments, the easy chemistry of the four leads who really are a bit of a dream to watch and some interesting ideas to chew on however briefly.

Bruno Stirs Up A Fuss.

Unsurprisingly Sacha Baron Cohen's latest docu-comedy-offend-a-fest "Bruno" has created a huge amount of press in both photo opportunities at premeries to press reviews of the movie itself which have been decidely mixed. The box office would indicate a similar feeling too with this weeks US takings down significantly (over 70% according to E!Online) for the second week (though given the summer movie season and the huge takings of Harry Potter it might not be so surprising) and much of the press following the movies first weekend in cinemas centred on how this movie "goes too far" and isn't funny in some quarters to others claiming its a laugh a minute.

Stateside, US TV legend Barbara Walters and the ladies of The View (the US TV smash in the vein of Loose Women which I WISH somebody would screen over here) debated how "appropriate" the sex in the movie was. The discussion is worth a watch for how it sums up many of the various arguments on the movie and also showing how uncomfortable the very "gay" nature of this film makes people.

What I found odd during the week as people spoke about this movie was how vile they thought it was. Am I the only one who thought that for the most part it was no more tasteless than Borat? I do agree that there is more graphic sex and nudity but surely a generation of cinema goers weaned on various teen sex comedies, the uber violent torture porn horror movies of the last few years and the foul mouthed and overly laddish Judd Apatow/Seth Rogen era would be a little less easily shocked by now? I can understand comments about how this movie re-hashs similar ideas and jokes but is in effect a Borat sequel and there is always going to be similarities and shortcomings with movies in that vein.

For my money this film provides lots of laugh out loud moments AND makes you think (could you say that about "The Hangover"? Doubt it). It makes you about celebrity culture, the inherent homophobia layered all over our society (not just in the easy target US south places either) and how uncomfortable people who are gay make us. Yes Bruno is obviously a way over the top stereotype but so what? It brings out some of the best humour of the film and shows the extremes of people's reactions to gay people. As much as I'd love a tasteful gay to bring up all these thought provoking points it would be a bit dull and more importantly far less funny.

I know that opinions are always split on movies, especially a movie that relies on shock tactics but I can't help but feel a little uncomfortable at the level of some people's criticism. The Navan cinema clip, (now a viral sensation, see it here) where a local cinema phone operator advises against seeing the film because of how offensive the movie is can be seen as the pinnacle. Many have pointed out how hilarious it is in a Father Ted manner but to me its pretty homophobic. Why isn't he compelled to make these comments on other films? And if people are complaining after seeing a film, so what? Certificates and indication of the content of a film are widely available these days. Its your responiblity to gauge what a film will be like, not the cinema. What gives this man right to go a tirade about this film? I doubt he would have done it about Borat. I'm not saying that if you don't like Bruno you are a homophobe but the level of uncomfortableness ( is that world?) people have for the film to me says more about how not used to gay ideas/sexuality then anything to do with good taste.

And REALLY any film that can have Paula Abdul talk about human rights while using a mexican labourer as a chair has to be a winner.