Bridesmaids

*** stars

The fact that Bridesmaids is the biggest box-office surprise of May 2011 is a clear indication that 3D is not working and people are still looking for something smart-and-witty instead of loud-and-noisy.

Bridesmaids is just that, and it works for both men and women. Why? Because master producer Judd Apatow, working from a very funny script by star Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, is able to understand the importance of jokes through character development rather than the other way around. It also helps that Kristen Wiig is on comedic fire with her hilarious and heartfelt performance as Annie, the lonely and lost bridesmaid.

This is what Katherine Heigl's 27 Dresses should have been. It's not sugar-coated or glamored up to be a typical "chick-flick." In fact, this is not a chick-flick, but a raunchy comedy from the viewpoint of women. I know many women who loved The Hangover, so why can't a guy enjoy Bridesmaids? Maybe it's "cooler" for a woman to enjoy a guy's movie than a man enjoying a "chick-flick". What makes Bridesmaids different is that it breaks that rule by doing one simple thing: it's a very funny and moving film.

If that won't convince your boyfriend to tag along with you, let him know that Jon Hamm (of Mad Men fame) is in it, and he plays a wicked asshole to perfection. I guarantee you though that he will be laughing at other things as well, especially one hilarious scene on a plane to Vegas that could be the most finely timed comedic scene of the year.

Wiig plays Annie, the maid of honor for her lifelong best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph). During the stretch to Lillian's wedding, Annie's nature consists of continuously falls for the "asshole" while flushing her cupcake-making career down the toilet thanks to the downfall of the economy (a refreshing and relevant recession plot line). The more pre-wedding festivities that occur and the closer it gets to the actual wedding date, the crazier Annie gets.

She can't seem to handle the fact that her life is spiraling out of control. Her friendship with Lillian is falling apart, her career is in shambles, and her love life is no more than a punch line. She meets a nice policeman who seems to be very interested in her. At first, it feels this romance is heading towards formulaic city, but staying true to character, writers Wiig and Mumolo are able to find a more unorthodox way for Annie to find the answers to the questions she's been asking her whole life.

I found Bridesmaids to be surprisingly sweet-and-sentimental. Staying true to the Apatow nature, this is a a surefire comedy packed with hilarious situations that work for both sexes. Men may be from Mars and women may be from Venus, but one thing we can all agree on is that when raunchy humor is done right, anyone can find it funny.