Review of Bachelorette (2012) by Amy S — 16 Aug 2012

Over the past couple years, it has become fashionable to craft comedies about pre-nuptial hijinks, thanks in part to the success of films like The Hangover and Bridesmaids, and despite the failings of films like Bride Wars and, well, The Hangover 2. So when a film like Bachelorette comes along, weâ(TM)re almost at the point of groaning at this dead horse beating. Great comedy often comes from fresh, original takes on situations, and so when counter-programmed miscalculations like writer/director Leslye Headlandâ(TM)s cinematic debut try to ride the coattails of a film fad, the result is almost instantly unfunny.

Bachelorette is the story of four old high school girlfriends who are so completely unlikable, itâ(TM)s a wonder they even like each other. Regan (Kirsten Dunst, erasing any cred she may have earned with last yearâ(TM)s Melancholia) is the queen bee, or B-Face, as they call their group, and she has been given the job of maid-of-honor to her overweight gal pal Becky (Rebel Wilson, who, oddly enough, made a splash last year with Bridesmaids). This really chaps the bitchy Regan, who canâ(TM)t understand why, despite doing everything right in her life, sheâ(TM)s the one not marrying a wealthy New Yorker and is forced to play second fiddle to, letâ(TM)s face it, the looser of the group. However, swallowing the bitter pill, Regan phones the other two B-Faces to come out to the Big Apple so they can re-connect and send off âPig Faceâ? Becky, just like old times.

While Bitch and Self-Conscious certainly arenâ(TM)t funny on their own, one can hope the other half of the B-Faces can raise the bar, with Jaded and Dumb hopping on a plane and joining their friends in time for the bachelorette party. Jaded and Dumb certainly can be funny, and are presented here by Gena, a sarcastic and oversexed drug addict (played by Lizzy Caplan), and Katie, a red-headed bimbo whoâ(TM)s stuck in retail (Isla Fisher). But problems soon rear their head, as it becomes clear that this fab four have outgrown their high school personalities, even if some refuse to accept that, and that may mean theyâ(TM)ve outgrown each other.

On the surface, the premise sounds intriguing, but intriguing isnâ(TM)t funny. Still, Iâ(TM)m willing to give Bachelorette the benefit of the doubt that maybe it isnâ(TM)t supposed to be a broad comedy, but rather a character study on old friendships, maturing responsibilities, and finding oneself in your 30s. However, these shallow characters never earn those tacked on themes, and Headlandâ(TM)s film is structured to more resemble an Adam McKay flick (he produces here), full of raunch and nonsense, but with a very slow second act that tries to remold the movie into something loftier; completely misses the mark. The one exception may be Caplanâ(TM)s Gena, who is the only character to have an arch and who supports the lofty themes more than the rest. But by the end, you canâ(TM)t help but wonder whether this one night of debauchery gone wrong is really the life-changing experience these gals need to become the sympathetic characters Headland wants us to root for. None of the B-Faces ever really change in an emotionally plausible way to hit the heartwarming note the writer/director is aiming for at the end.

Bachelorette is crude, obnoxious, stupid, and mean. Itâ(TM)s just nasty. And not in that Young Adult kind of funny, satirically cruel way. No, itâ(TM)s numbingly incompetent and as mean-spirited as movies get. Hostility and aggression overshadow any occasional laughs and mildly witty one-liners, and its snark wears thin very quickly. On top of that, it unapologetically promotes drug use, casual sex, bulimia, and even suicide. Sure, itâ(TM)s edgy and dark, with elements like that, but it feels forced, unrealistic, and almost gimmicky, like it was designed to be an indie alternative to the broad wedding comedies earning so much money these days. Bachelorette certainly wonâ(TM)t have the success of those other comedy powerhouses, but that may be because its appeal is so limited, and those who are looking to laugh at the darker side of bridesmaids gone wild may find a half-hearted life lesson they would rather avoid. At one point Adam Scott (who plays Genaâ(TM)s ex-boyfriend) utters to Gena that her schtick âjust isnâ(TM)t cute anymoreâ?. And heâ(TM)s absolutely right; as adults, we canâ(TM)t find these hijinks amusing for long, but it seems Headland doesnâ(TM)t quite get her own message.