By Carolyn Williams

Staff Writer

Though “Bridesmaids” packs a serious punch in the humor department, the overall effect of the film, which aspires to the status of the popular “bromance” exemplified by “The Hangover” and “I Love You, Man,” falls somewhat short of expectations.

Saturday Night Live’s Kristin Wiig co-wrote the film and stars as Annie, a 30-something whose life is caught in a tailspin for most of the movie. After losing her bakery and, consequently, her savings, Annie has taken up a job at a low-end jewelry shop where she completely fails to sell couples on the dream of “eternal love” with her jaded attitude and is constantly reminded by her boss that the only reason he hasn’t fired her yet is that her mother is his AA sponsor.

So, naturally, when Annie’s best and oldest friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) becomes engaged, she feels somewhat left in the dust. As the maid of honor, she struggles to measure up to fellow bridesmaid Helen (Rose Bryne, “Get Him to the Greek”), who is not only poised and a member of Lillian’s new country club, but is also clearly vying to take over as maid of honor. The two first butt heads during the toasts at the engagement party, and things only go downhill from there.

Melissa McCarthy (“Gilmore Girls”), Ellie Kemper (“The Office”) and Wendi McLendon-Covey round out the bridal party. For her first official act as maid of honor, Annie takes the party out to a Brazilian restaurant before their dress fitting only to have the entire party come down with a violent case of food poisoning except, of course, the ever-perfect Helen, who doesn’t like to eat before a fitting.

Meanwhile, Annie’s life continues to fall apart. Kicked out of her apartment and finally fired from her dead-end job, she is forced to move back in with her mother. Her relationship status is even more embarrassing; she’s a third-string booty call for Ted (Jon Hamm, “Mad Men”), whose spoof on his own role as lady-killer Don Draper is, in itself, pretty hilarious. She’s developed a flirty rapport with friendly Irish police officer Rhodes (Chris O’Dowd), but she manages to mess even that up. As Annie reaches her limit, she is forced to finally assess the damage that is her life, and, hopefully, find a way to make it all work out in time for the wedding.

“Bridesmaids” is a definite crowd-pleaser, although it tends to draw certain scenes out uncomfortably longer than necessary. “Despite crass humor and cringe-worthy moments, ‘Bridesmaids’ was an overall enjoyable film; funny and entertaining,” Kate Wilsterman ’14 said.

Though the film does not manage to top the male counterparts it tries to emulate, it is a valiant attempt to drag the proverbial “chick flick” out of its current stagnation.