"Bachelorette": A Damaged She-Wolf Pack

Raunchy, sexual, buddy, comedy films have been mostly concerned with the male experience. Adolescent-like young men only concerned with scoring with "chicks", getting drunk, and maybe at the end find some sort of deep pseudo emotional connection with their buddies. Recently; however, this trend has changed, as the audience becomes more open to see women as capable of such acts. The list of comedies that focus the high school-young adulthood life is endless, even if we just stay within the past 5 years: "Superbad", "Role Models", "The Hangover" saga, "Bridesmaids" etc. High School experiences and traumas dragging into the rest of your life, its a well known American fascination. Those are the forming years more,than academically, in life skills. Drugs, Sex, Bad Relationships, Backstabbing Friends, Bullying, and more irrelevant drama, that for some becomes a defining aspect of who they are. These is what all these films attempt to depict, "Bachelorette" included. The story here tries to convince us that these are more complex characters, with dark pasts, and that in a sense they are just like all of us : flawed. Sadly, we find out that the word "flawed" engulfs the film, and never really lets it go.

As usual, these party crazy, sex loving, reckless groups come in 4. Regan (Kristen Dunst) the smart, controlling, beautiful, yet miserable leader of the pack. Think Regina George from "Mean Girls" but a tad more human. Then we have the actual Bachelorette, Becky (Rebel Wilson) who feels kind of guilty for being the first one to marry being the "less good looking". There is druggie, one-night-stander Gena (Lizzy Caplan) and airhead fashionista Katie (Isla Fisher). They are reunited for Becky's wedding in New York, which is sure to unearth some messed up issues among the four,  involving, but not limited to, abortion, bulimia, suicide attempts, and humiliation. I know, some heavy stuff for a comedy film that takes place over one night. Faced with the burden of a destroyed wedding dress they must fix, and a quartet of male counterparts that are as lost as the gals, these damaged she-wolf pack will try to make it to the ceremony with their dignities still usable.

In such a short  spam of time, we are told so many of their secrets and failed dreams. Hardcore unresolved drama mixed in with the jokes. It just doesn't seem right because we never really care for any of the many sides stories. Instead of feeling like a random night that arises some issues (not every issue in their past) , it feels as if a melodramatic series got packed into 90 minutes. Some of the actors seem to be playing a consistent version of who they always play. Overly sexual tomboyish Lizzy Caplan, or the chunky but funny, good girl that Rebel Wilson plays here once more. The only performance that rings original and enjoyable is the bitchy, megalomaniac, Regan played by Kristen Dunst. She is in fact the life line of the film. A very comedic and original character as we have not seen Dunst before. She is indeed the leader and the one that in a sense knows the flaws and tribulations of the other B-faces (as the group used to call each other in high school). Reegan is jealous, vicious, and mean, but under it, she actually gives a damn about these group of screw-ups.

There is a few really funny moments, most of them come from Kristen Dunst lines and witty statements. The script fails to cohesively marry the comedy with this heartfelt drama under it. It never rings true, neither extremely funny nor moving. The ending is, to say the list, predictable. Falling into too many cliches such as corny speeches, the acceptance and forgiveness of their failures, and a "happy ever after" party with dancing included to save the day. Nothing special. A film that will be forgotten or eternally compared the the superior "Bridesmaids" or even to "Mean Girls". If you are a fan of Kristen Dunts then you will enjoy it; otherwise, well skip this party. As mentioned before only packs a couple laughs, if there is nothing there in your agenda that will provide you with more fun, then turn off your standards for great comedy and watch this. "Bachelorette" is now out in theaters and in VOD. Grade C.