Bride Hard: It's No Die Hard, But It Tries Hard
By John Kirk
Rating: B-
Just the title of the goofy, high-concept comedy Bride Hard alerts the audience to expect a film that won’t take itself the least bit seriously. And that’s pretty much what they get, and less.
Like every cringeworthy wedding you’ve ever attended, it leaves one with a lukewarm smile, and the hope that the time invested in witnessing this spectacle of forced happiness will be appreciated.
Here's the official synopsis: When a mercenary group takes a lavish wedding hostage, they have no idea what they are in for as the Maid of Honor is actually a secret agent ready to rain hell-fire upon anyone who would ruin her best friend's wedding.
It’s a simple description, but at least the bar is set low so the audience doesn’t have to struggle. The bride Betsy (Anna Camp) is not aware that her longtime childhood friend Sam (Rebel Wilson) has been keeping a secret from her - she’s a covert operative with a bad case of Lone Wolf Syndrome. Like the limited options on a reception dinner menu, it’s something that’s received by the audience, no questions asked.
Read our interview with Bride Hard star Rebel Wilson
Of course, the angle is that because Sam is pulled away from their friendship to perform planet-saving missions, Betsy feels abandoned by her bestie and this sets up the underlying basis of the comedy for the film.
Wilson’s foray into stunts and fight choreography in this story is a marked change from her usual brand of physical comedy. Given that most of them are performed while clad in a froo-froo bridesmaid’s dress, this is no small feat.
It definitely adds to the entertainment, but what has always struck me about her style is how well Wilson has married sharp, biting repartee to her physical comedy in the past. Sadly, repartee is largely missing from this film.
What is also notably absent is the usual klutzy, self-directed body-shaming humour we have seen in the past. It’s replaced by a dynamically physical and forceful character that Wilson presents well enough to accept.
While the change of character type for Wilson is laudable and works in the script’s favour, its predictability doesn’t. Like awkward gaffes at an actual wedding, the script lapse moments stand out and slow the pace of the story. The more seasoned actors are able to overcome the words they utter, but it’s another reminder of the low bar this film sets for itself.
For instance, Anna Chlumsky sets herself up well as Virginia, the insecure sister-in-law who wants to replace Sam as the Maid of Honour. Exaggerated, schlocky and as painfully obvious as a drunken uncle on the dance floor, Chlumsky still manages to pull off the role.
Stephen Dorff also does reasonably well as the Hans Gruber-style head villain who commandeers the wedding ceremony and takes the guests hostage. Though there aren’t any dramatic ‘yippee-ki-yay” response moments presented to the hero, he’s a bad guy who knows how to boss other bad guys around and for a comedy styling of this milieu - ah, good enough.
The same goes for Sam Huntington as the groom, Ryan. Huntingdon really can’t fail to present a perfectly bland character whose only story contribution is getting shot, the question is: what more do you want out of this stripped down, Temu version of Die Hard. Maybe a little action?
Well, there’s that too. In fact, the stunts are pretty good. Whether it’s a carefully choreographed fight scene or an epic golf cart vs mini hovercraft armed with machine guns chase, the action is present and well performed. It’s definitely a plus, and a big part of its bare-bones believability.
The upshot of all of this is: while far from good, it’s not all that bad. Bride Hard is likeable. It manages to hold up an acceptable storyline, provides chuckles here and there, has some cool fight scenes with a kick-ass Rebel Wilson, friendships are renewed, the wedding goes on and the bad guy gets his due.
As we are led to expect.
Just don’t hold out for the sequel.
Bride Hard. Directed by Simon West. Starring Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp, Anna Chlumsky, Da’Vine Joy Randolh, Gigi Zumbado, Sherry Cola, Sam Huntington, Colleen Camp, and Stephen Dorff. In theatres June 20.