Bachelorette ** (2012, Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher, Lizzy Caplan, James Marsden, Ann Dowd, Adam Scott, Hayes MacArthur) – Classic Movie Review 4771

Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher, Lizzy Caplan star as three irresponsible mean girl bridesmaids who reunite for one last bachelorette party in the Big Apple on the night before the wedding of their old friend Becky (Rebel Wilson), whom they cruelly ridiculed back in high school.

They unintentionally create a mess of Becky’s wedding dress before she marries her sweetheart Dale (Hayes MacArthur) and try to repair the situation and get the dress to Becky before the wedding starts.

Writer/ director Leslye Headland’s dark-toned, raucous chick flick romantic comedy (based on her play) is appealing and funny in parts and strongly cast, though it largely manages to squander most of the talents on show. It should be fun but it turns out to be an alienating problem that the three main characters are dislikeable, prompting comparisons with The Hangover more than Bridesmaids. Wilson gets the best of what’s going, and makes the most of it. As the wedding idea is much used for films, the situations have a warmed-up feel but, still, some of it is funny.

With the focus all on the female characters, the men are secondary issues, so MacArthur, James Marsden, Adam Scott, Horatio Sanz, Andrew Rannells and Kyle Bornheimer really are wasted. It is truly is a girls’ night out movie.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4771

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