It’s Die Hard meets Bridesmaids – it’s Bride Hard!
Bride Hard stars Rebel Wilson as Sam, a secret agent whose mission impossible is being maid of honour for her best friend Betsy’s (Anna Camp) wedding.
While Rebel Wilson and Anna Camp might be the main draw of this movie, thanks to their Pitch Perfect history, it is Anna Chlumsky’s Virginia and Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s Lydia who stole the show. Chlumsky is perfect as the neurotic sister in law to be, who thinks the wedding is all about her.
Meanwhile, Randolph’s Lydia stole the most laughs with her sassy self-assurance that gamely targets any eligible bachelor. And maybe a not so eligible one.
Regardless of target choices, thank you director Simon West for showing us a confident, plus-sized, woman of colour. And for showing us that she too is attractive to the objects of her desire.
Brilliant casting aside, what about the plot?
I’m not going to sugar coat it. It’s standard fare, we already know what the vague storyline will be.
However, it is punctuated by some slapstick gems during the improbable fight scenes between Sam and the baddies. You can’t help but laugh at it, yet cheer Sam on as she takes down the grunts with random sprinklers and candlesticks.
Is Bride Hard going to win any awards? Of course not.
But that clearly isn’t its intention. Bride Hard is one of those films that harkens back to the days when audiences would happily suspend reality for ninety minutes. Think of the 80s classics like Police Academy, The Naked Gun and National Lampoon. People would laugh at the ridiculousness instead of criticising the lack of realism.
Given the state of the world, I think we all need a bit of escapism. And I’m not the only one who thinks so as viewers at the screening event were laughing along with me.
Bollywood is the epitome of escapism and makes billions anually. It’s known for random teleportations to the Swiss Alps, protagonists hiding behind trees and rolling down hills while singing with a backup of suspiciously coordinated villagers.
The plus side of Bride Hard is that it serves up a healthy level of silly without resorting to gross out comedy. Who can forget the bridal fitting scene in Bridesmaids which sees the bridal party suffering from food poisoning and features Melissa McCarthy relieving herself in a fancy marble sink?
So treat Bride Hard as it is: escapist cinema. Great for a girls’ night out where you just want to forget the stresses of daily life.
Bride Hard opens in cinemas on 31st July.