DVD Review - Bachelorette

Lizzy Caplan (left), Kirsten Dunst (center)
and Isla Fisher in "Bachelorette"

The opening to this movie has a lot of similarities to Bridesmaids (2011). The tone and direction take this movie down a different path, but Kirsten Dunst stars as Regan, a well-educated and well-financed woman living in Manhattan, the evil version of Kristen Wiig's character, basically. She's the maid of honor to Becky, played by Rebel Wilson, the Australian actress who was in Bridesmaids. Regan is clearly dumbfounded as well as a bit bitter and resentful. She can't believe that Becky is getting married, especially to the life-size, Ken doll that is Dale, played by Hayes MacArthur. Regan is dumbfounded, probably due to the fact that Becky's nickname in high school was pigface. Yet, Regan agrees to be the maid of honor and basically be the wedding planner. The night before, Regan throws a bachelorette party and invites two other friends, Katie, played by Isla Fisher, and, Gena, played by Lizzy Caplan. The bulk of the movie is the bachelorette party leading to the wedding reception the next day and all the hi-jinx that occurs in that space of time.

Throughout that space of time, various men are introduced who either affect the women positively or negatively. Ultimately, the movie is about how the women relate to one another, how they perceive what they want and how they go about achieving that. In between, there's a lot of drugs and dildos, dresses and dances.

The directorial debut of Leslye Headlund who is also the screenwriter adapting her own play is able to get at the follies and damages of these women. She culminates it in a pretty incredible sequence at the end that is manic and crazy, but energetic, fun and even heartbreaking. Basically, all Hell is on the verge of breaking loose and does do to some extent, and all the women are thrown into it and have to deal with it, and Headlund handles it all with a great stride.

Adam Scott (Party Down and Parks and Recreation) co-stars as Clyde, one of Dale's groomsmen who is also Gena's ex-boyfriend. I am a fan of Adam Scott. Despite the fact that his character has to be pulled out of a strip club, he is the guy that makes you fall in love with him.

James Marsden (X-Men and Enchanted) co-stars as Trevor, the best man in the wedding who is a sexy womanizer but is also a bit slimy. Kyle Bornheimer who co-starred with MacArthur in the short-lived TV series Worst Week and Perfect Couples plays Joe, a sweet and slightly awkward guy who becomes interested in Katie but has a difficult time trying to keep the party girl grounded.

Andrew Rannells (The New Normal) and Horatio Sanz (Saturday Night Live) both have brief but memorable scenes. The blooper reel on the DVD features shows Sanz doing a little improvisation and being quite funny. Headlund's commentary is also really great, as she compares making a movie to birthing and raising a child. Her love of oral sex as well as her inspirations and allusions to films are included. You'll hear how her movie references, films ranging from Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) to The Shining (1980), are incorporated in this great debut.

Five Stars out of Five.
Rated R for sexual content, pervasive language, and drug use.
Running Time: 1 hr. and 27 mins.