--- title: "Bridesmaids: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/bridesmaids/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/bridesmaids" critics_score: 81 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Bridesmaids (2011): what the critics said Critics' score 81 from 15 reviews: 13 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics find Bridesmaids a sharply observed, warmly performed comedy whose crude set pieces have believable friendships behind them. Praise centres on Kristen Wiig’s timing and her ability to make an anxious, self-defeating character sympathetic without softening her behaviour. The ensemble earns broad approval, with Melissa McCarthy repeatedly singled out for her comic energy. The reviews also value the attention paid to rivalry, status envy and the awkward business of sharing a close friend. The reservations cluster around length, overextended routines and romantic material that slows the comedy. Opinion is more divided on how comfortably the gross-out scenes sit alongside the emotional story, though the spread remains largely positive. Screen Daily finds the result patchy despite Wiig’s sympathetic performance. Vulture raises a different objection: it finds plenty to laugh at, but questions whether the supposedly female perspective is too eager to please men. ## Radio Times — Karen Krizanovich Rating 5/5. The critic describes it as a heady, hilarious romp with smart scripting and direction, praising the ensemble cast, Wiig's timing, and standout supporting turns. It highlights outrageous scenes and the film's overall appeal. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-4rf9si/bridesmaids/) ## Little White Lies — Kevin Maher Rating 2/4/3. 23 June 2011. The critic praises the film's originality in exploring female friendships and rivalry beyond typical Apatow fare, highlighting sharp commentary and standout scenes. Complaints focus on excessive length, musical montages, and a weak ending. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/bridesmaids) ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Rating 4/5. 21 June 2011. The review calls it a triumph that successfully adapts gross-out comedy for women, centered on a remarkable lead performance and believable emotional core. It notes some forced scenes and excessive length as minor flaws. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/bridesmaids) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 4 May 2011. Festival review. The review finds it a patchy comedy with hallmarks of Apatow productions, noting decent laughs from ensemble set pieces but criticizing overextended scenes. Wiig is praised for a sympathetic performance blending sadness and humor. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/-bridesmaids/5026859.article) ## Empire — Anna Smith 26 May 2011. The critic finds Bridesmaids a standout female ensemble comedy that balances relatable characters with smart laughs and side-splitting farce. It singles out the gross-out humor in the bridal shop scene and the airplane antics for praise while noting some pacing issues from added romance. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/bridesmaids-review/) ## Evening Standard 10 April 2012. The critic deems Bridesmaids hugely enjoyable, fresh and rude, both touching and funny throughout. It praises the set-piece comedy routines, especially the bridal shop scene, and Wiig’s central performance while noting the film ultimately settles into rom-com territory. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/bridesmaids-review-7425467.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey 13 May 2011. The critic calls it a rare R-rated romantic comedy from a female perspective that is real, raunchy, and funny, crediting Wiig and the ensemble for its appeal. It highlights the handling of women's relationships and the fearless slapstick performances as standout elements. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-bridesmaids-20110513-story.html) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager 9 May 2011. The critic praises how it deftly navigates platonic-pal sentimentality while reveling in gross-out comedy, highlighting Wiig's central performance and the female-centric focus distinct from Apatow's male-led films. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/bridesmaids/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw 23 June 2011. The critic finds Bridesmaids a terrifically funny, smart and tender ensemble comedy that pulls off the trick of being brutal and gentle at the same time. Wiig's performance as the anxious maid of honour and the film's focus on competitive female friendships and status envy are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/jun/23/bridesmaids-review) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy 3 May 2011. Festival review. The critic finds it an uneven but emotionally involving human comedy with empathetic appeal and a candid take on feminine foibles, praising Wiig's performance while noting inconsistent tone and overlong runtime. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/bridesmaids-film-review-184504/) ## The New Yorker — David Denby 16 May 2011. The review finds the film lurching and uneven with some unfunny episodes but credits its showcase of talented performers, especially Melissa McCarthy's lewd comic energy and Kristen Wiig's shift to a more realistic role. It notes the director's affection for the actresses as a saving grace. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/05/23/the-better-life) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis 13 May 2011. The critic praises the film as an unexpectedly funny comedy that lets its female characters be raucous and honest without solely mocking other women. It singles out the strong ensemble performances and focus on female friendship for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/movies/bridesmaids-with-kristen-wiig-maya-rudolph-review.html) ## Total Film — Neil Smith 9 June 2011. The review calls Bridesmaids a gleefully crude and funny addition to the Apatow canon that proves women can deliver raunchy comedy. It highlights Kristen Wiig’s performance and Melissa McCarthy’s standout turn as the most memorable elements. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/bridesmaids-review/) ## Vulture 13 May 2011. The review calls it hilarious as a mix of chick-flick and raunchy comedy of humiliation but finds it too bifurcated and a female perspective too eager to please men. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2011/05/movie_review_bridesmaids.html) ## Digital Spy — Stella Papamichael Rating 5/5. 20 June 2011. Wiig gives a scream of a performance as a self-destructive maid of honor in a deliriously funny film that subverts chick-flick expectations with sharp group dynamics, toilet humor, and emotional weight. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a323619/bridesmaids/) ## /Film — Peter Sciretta Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 14 March 2011. Festival review. The review declares Bridesmaids a confident mix of laugh-out-loud funny, smart, raunchy, and heartbreaking that transcends the chick flick genre. Wiig's career-best performance and the strong set pieces are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/514526/paul-feigs-bridesmaids-transcends-chick-flick-genre-sxsw-review/) ## NME — Owen Nicholls Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 22 June 2011. It is the funniest and most universal film of the year thanks to the joyous central friendship between Wiig and Rudolph and excellent comedy set-pieces that make it far more than a female Hangover clone. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/blogs/the-movies-blog/bridesmaids-film-review-771743) ## The Playlist — The Playlist Staff Rating A-. 10 May 2011. Festival review. The critic praises the film for balancing hilarity and heart with a truth and ugliness to the lead character's self-sabotage. Kristen Wiig's deceptively complex performance is highlighted as a revelation. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-kristen-wiigs-bridesmaids-is-a-winning-balance-of-hilarious-heartfelt-20110510/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B+. 13 May 2011. The critic praises the rich characters and tremendous performances, especially from Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy, calling the film heartfelt, witty, and damn funny overall. It notes issues with the third act dragging the main character too low and some pacing problems in the romantic subplot, while singling out the strong ensemble and balance of humor and heart. [Read the review](https://collider.com/bridesmaids-review/) ## Den of Geek — Louisa Mellor Rating 4/5. 13 May 2011. The critic calls it the R-rated comedy to beat, praising it as a funny, crude film about female friendship and a 'ho-mance' rather than a typical wedding movie, with strong performances especially from Wiig and the ensemble. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/bridesmaids-review/) ## HeyUGuys — David Sztypuljak Rating 4/5. 16 March 2011. Festival review. The critic finds Bridesmaids a very funny and silly comedy that delivers laughs throughout its runtime. Kristen Wiig's performance and timing are singled out as awesome and perfectly cast. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/sxsw-bridesmaids-review/) ## Paste — Ryan Carey Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 14 June 2011. The review highlights that Bridesmaids succeeds as both a comedy and a full cinematic experience with strong performances and story, particularly praising Kristen Wiig's brilliance and the surrounding hilarious cast. It notes some unnecessary slapstick sequences and a crass food-poisoning scene that tosses out dignity, while singling out its emotional depth and staying power as a very good film. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/bridesmaids/bridesmaids-review) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 12 May 2011. The film delivers a female-filtered take on Judd Apatow-style gross-out comedy that leaves viewers laughing hard and often. It singles out the graceful, mortifying street scene as a standout set piece that exemplifies the movie's smart, character-driven humor. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/bridesmaids-when-ladies-retch-they-do-it-gracefully-27327/) ## Eye for Film — David Graham Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 21 June 2011. The review calls Bridesmaids polished and appealing with genuine heart and hilarity that should appeal broadly. It singles out the excessive length as a main drawback that makes the film exhaustingly bloated. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/bridesmaids-film-review-by-david-graham) ## The Skinny — Jamie Dunn Rating ★★★. 20 June 2011. It breaks the recent cycle of poor wedding comedies by prioritizing comedy talent over looks, with sharp one-liners, strong set pieces, and heartfelt moments from Wiig and Rudolph, though it is slightly too long. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/bridesmaids) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/bridesmaids.md