Why is Bridesmaids’s success such a shock? It’s a well-written, well-acted, well-produced movie; why wouldn’t people be flocking to theaters to see it?
It amuses me endlessly to see articles from agencies like The Wrap about how Bridesmaids’s popularity with moviegoers (read: all that money they were willing to pay at the theaters!) has led to “a new movie genre” and about how pitches have already been accepted for similar types of movies.
Why is Hollywood just now catching on to the fact that women might enjoy R-rated comedies about *gasp* fellow women?
Is it just the gross-out factor the big-wigs think we’re in it for? Because I have to say that what I loved most about the movie was not that (though I admit I thought it was great to see women being allowed to behave badly), but rather how well rounded and real the characters and their relationships were. A lot of the characters’ behaviors and actions were exaggerated for the sake of entertainment (which was indeed hilarious), but overall I thought they were simply kick-ass in their own ways. They went for things full tilt, no holds barred—and they got it.
This might be relatively new in the chick-flick world (in how many movies even nowadays does the woman end up changing her whole life for the guy and their shiny new relationship?—Leap Year, I’m looking at you!) but not elsewhere. Books, shows, other types of movies...they’ve already provided tons of examples of strong women kicking ass and taking names, with and without men by their sides. They are my favorite type of heroine.
So my reaction to this “news”? It’s about time, people!
