Guy Lochhead, 03/03/12
2011 rom-com about a rivalry between bridesmaids arranging a friend’s wedding. The film was probably the first mainstream “chick flick” to include realistic, non-debased female characters as protagonists. The film mixes gross-out comedy, slapstick, set-pieces and smart dialogue with the usual pappy rom-com elements in a way that has been – perhaps surprisingly, but very encouragingly – very well-received. I loved this film. It’s actually funny. The writing is sharp and spot-on, the acting is brilliant and the message of the film is empowering without being intimidating. One telling thing about the tone, intelligence, ambition and innovation of this film is that the bride’s husband doesn’t say a single thing (and is brilliantly cast as Tim Heidecker). That takes guts. I know this isn’t a children’s film (at all), but I’m going to include it anyway.