Would you describe yourself as a movie buff? Are you the person your friends go to for film recommendations? Do you consider Roger Ebert to be a bit of a rock star? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, we want you to show us your movie critic street cred by posting a review in the forum. Here’s what we’re looking for:
- Select a film that has been recently released onto DVD/Blu-ray or is in theatres now
- Include the following:
Film Synopsis
This film is about…
Your thoughts on the film
The plot started off weak but the character development improved in the second half of the film…
Spoilers
If you include spoilers, please post **SPOILER ALERT** at the top of your review.
Rating
You absolutely recommend the film! You're luke warm about it. Or, you haven’t seen something this bad since Snakes on a Plane. Either way, give us a star rating out of 5.
Allow me to kick things off! Here’s my review for Bridesmaids below, recently released onto DVD and Blu-ray.
Bridesmaids
Film Synopsis
Annie (Kristen Wiig) is a romantically unattached failed bakery owner who fears she's losing her BFF, Lillian (Maya Rudolph), the best thing in her life, when Lillian announces she's gotten engaged. Annie's anxieties deepen as Lillian grows close to Helen (Rose Byrne), a wealthy and beautiful new friend who quickly assumes control of planning all the pre-wedding festivities. On top of the main storyline of a female friendship being torn apart, the movie adds a romantic storyline for Annie, who starts the film answering a booty call from the casually cruel yet undeniably handsome Ted (Jon Hamm), but develops a lovely flirtation with an Irish cop named Rhodes (Chris O'Dowd) after he pulls Annie over one night thinking she's driving drunk. As the low-self-esteem Annie sabotages this new possibility for love, she also feels the most important friendship in her life slipping away.
My thoughts on the film
Without sounding cliché – because I do pride myself in appreciating a wide variety of film genres – I definitely have a soft spot for well written, well acted rom-coms. Bridesmaids gets marks for both. I’ve seen the film twice now – once in the theatre with a harem of gal pals, 2 of which also contribute to the Plug-in Blog – and just last week on the comfort of my own couch. While the film uncovers the inarguable horror of being ones bridesmaid, our leading lady (Wiig) convinces us that there is something genuinely loving and sisterly to be found at the end of such an insane ordeal.
Suspiciously, the film does remind me a little of another blockbuster film, in terms of the conflicting personalities pulled together to make up Lillian’s bridal party. Melissa McCarthy (a standout in the film) plays the groom’s sister and is slightly reminiscent of Zach Galifianakis’ character in The Hangover. Lillian, played by SNLs Maya Rudolph, acts as a bit of a peacemaker as tensions rise around who she considers her bestie, which as a woman, is something I found totally relatable. Annie’s love life is also very relatable as she casts aside the lovely, endearing Rhodes (played by Chris O'Dowd) and opts to keep chasing bad boy Ted. Why do so many of us gals do this?! I digress; Wiig is funny as ever and has proven she’s more than a reoccurring character in an SNL sketch. I’d say she’s here to stay – as a writer and leading actor. She killed it in this film.
Rating
If you’re having the girls over for movie night, know of someone going through the challenge of planning a wedding or enjoy a good comedy (fit for fellas too!) I would definitely recommend Bridesmaids. I give this film 4 out of 5 stars.
