Aren't Weddings Lovely? NO!

Just before we get into all the Oscar nominated films, let's take a moment out and talk about a movie that will make you laugh till your sides hurt. Had their been 10 nominations for Best Picture, there's always a chance that this could've been nominated. (Along with other snubbed movies like Drive, Shame, Tinker Tailor, Tintin... What are the Academy thinking this year?) Today, we look at Bridesmaids.

The concept for the film is not necessarily something you'd expect from a comedy. It's one lady's life turning to misery and disappointment. It's a fairly simply concept. Annie (Kristen Wiig) is asked to be the Maid of Honour at her childhood best friend, Lillian's (Maya Rudolph) wedding. However, the rest of the bridesmaids are not the most most compatible lot. Firstly, there's lad-ish sister in law, Megan (Melissa McCarthy), then pretentious and charitable Helen Harris III, who is slowly stealing Lillian away from Annie. There is also Becca (Ellie Kemper) and Rita (Wendi McLendon-Covey). Due to her jealousy and declining personal life, Annie starts to over stress and cause a lot of issues over the wedding. Though their may be a ray of hope in the form of good cop, Nathan (Chris O'Dowd).

Karaoke did not go down so well at the bridal shower. 

First of all, all the performances in the movie are brilliant with a special mention to Kristen Wiig (Who is nominated for a Best Screenplay Oscar) and Melissa McCarthy (nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar.) It's not often that comedy roles go so well noticed, but McCarthy in particular deserves the recognition that she is receiving. She is absolutely brilliant as the brutish Megan. Highlights of her performance include taking a dump in a sink while wearing a very expensive dress and wrestling Annie on a bed and claiming to be 'her life.' Kristen Wiig, as Annie, is also superb. Not only is she hilarious when she needs to be, she portrays her more negative emotions with as much conviction. Chris O'Dowd, in his first big Hollywood movie after his humble origins in the I.T. Crowd, is also fantastic. While his accent is hit and miss (an immigrant perhaps) he is funny, witty, but also the most soulful character in the film; honest and well natured.

'Did you hear something?'
'I don't know, I covered my ears.'

The film was incredibly well written and the comic timing was spot on. Some of the editing, as well, was brilliant. Nothing particularly special in the way of technical elements such as score, soundtrack, or camera shots, nor was there anything  bad. It was simply very generic in these terms. Definite;y director Paul Feig's best film to date. The film is a bundle of laughs that doesn't try to hard. It doesn't focus on the one liners or fart jokes (while they are included), it does what all the best comedies should do. It turns daily things into hilarious moments as well as exaggerating every last detail.

A really fun movie. Not one for all the family, mind you. The opening scene is a sex scene (a very awkward one) and the c word is yelled into a teenagers face. Keep it away from the children. A must see of 2011 and, while I don't thing Melissa McCarthy will get the Best Supporting Actress Oscar, it still fills me with joy that people can recognise great comedic performances.

Best Bit? The montage of different crimes committed to get Chris O'Dowd's attention. I couldn't stop laughing.