Film Screening 3rd September, 2011

Poster for Bridesmaids

Bridesmaids 

8:00 PM, 3rd September, 2011

  • MA
  • 125 mins
  • 2011
  • Paul Feig
  • Kristen Wiig,  Annie Mumolo
  • Kristen Wiig,  Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne

This is not your usual chick flick. Although it embraces familiar themes - love, friendship, sisterly bonding, weddings, fashion - you've never seen them quite like this!

Annie ("Saturday Night Live"'s Wiig, who also co-wrote the film) is having a rough time. Her business has just gone bust, she's in an unsatisfying 'friends with benefits' relationship with a selfish jerk (Jon Hamm) and to top it off, she can barely afford her rent. So when her best friend Lillian (Rudolph) asks Annie to be her maid of honour, she's thrilled - until she meets Lillian's new friend Helen (Byrne). She's wealthy, beautiful, stylish, classy and out to steal Annie's best friend! As part of a motley crew of bridesmaids, Annie attempts to hold onto her oldest friendship while she navigates the bizarre and tumultuous wedding world of bridal stores, bachelorette parties, extravagant bridal showers and celebrating someone else's happiness in the midst of your own broke, lovelorn misery.

This film is being heralded as the forerunner in a new era of female-oriented raunchy comedies - and quite rightly too. Produced by comedy maverick Judd Apatow, it features a similar broad comedy styling to his best known films, Knocked Up and Superbad, and, like those films, wears its big heart on its sleeve. A hilarious exploration of the absurdity of wedding planning, female friendships and the dangers of back alley Brazilian cuisine, Bridesmaids is a funny, touching and thoroughly enjoyable film.

Emma Petrie

Poster for Your Highness

Your Highness 

10:20 PM, 3rd September, 2011

  • MA
  • 102 mins
  • 2011
  • David Gordon Green
  • Danny McBride,  Ben Best
  • Danny McBride,  James Franco, Natalie Portman

Ever had an older brother who was just too, too good? Ever had a younger brother who was a total waste? If the answer to either question is 'yes' - or you think you'd enjoy watching a vulgar, farcical comedic romp set in the Middle Ages - then Your Highness is for you.

Slacker younger brother Thadeous (McBride) has spent his life watching his much-adored older brother Fabious (Franco) embark upon valiant quests and win the hearts of his people. Crunch time comes for Thadeous when Fabious's fiancée (Zooey Deschanel) is kidnapped by the evil wizard Leezar (Justin Theroux). The king gives his younger son an ultimatum: help rescue his brother's bride-to-be or get cut off for good. Now, reluctantly embarking upon his first ever quest, Thadeous finds himself unexpectedly faced with an even harder choice; to become a hero, or to remain a coward. Guess which one he ends up being?

Yes, it's predictable. Yes, it relies on easy, absurd laughs, but you can't fault all involved for trying. Add to the equation the delicious Natalie Portman as a warrior girl with a dangerous agenda of her own, and you've got the makings of an epic comedy adventure you won't want to miss. Fortunately, no swans or fingernails were harmed in the making of this film... although you sadly can't say the same for Minotaurs.

Dallas Stow