Bridesmaids (2011)

SUZANNE HANOVER/©UNIVERSAL PICTURES/COURTESY EVERETT COLLECTION
“A film that lets women be funny!” was the word on the street upon the release of Paul Feig’s movie about a 30-something (Kristen Wiig) who spirals way out of control when her BFF (Maya Rudolph) gets engaged.
Bridesmaids was the most satisfying, richly realized hilarious comedy in years.
With an inspired screenplay by Wiig and Annie Mumolo — there’s barely a line or gag that doesn’t land — Feig’s generous touch, and strong ensemble (Melissa McCarthy, MVP), it’s a blend of gross-out humor, rom-com and gal-pal flick, fueled by one of the great passive-aggressive rivalries in film history (Wiig’s Annie vs. Rose Byrne’s trophy wife from hell, Helen).
There are some superb comic set pieces: the dress fitting felled by food poisoning (“It’s coming out of me like lava!”) and a plane ride thrown into chaos by Xanax chased with scotch.