Melissa McCarthy – Bridesmaids

Bridesmaids was easily one of the funniest films of 2011 and surprisingly well done all around.  It has earned Oscar nominations in Original Screenplay and for Mellisa McCarthy’s performance.  However, some people feel inclined to count McCarthy out of the acting race because her role is on a different level than the other nominees.  As a fellow tomboy and former bridesmaid, I feel compelled to defend Melissa McCarthy’s Supporting Actress nomination.

There is much more to this role than being the chubby, gross-out queen of the bridesmaids.  Megan is the sister of the groom, so she already does not quite fit in with the rest of the girl-friends.  I feel there would be a level of guilt if the bride had not asked Megan to stand up in the wedding.  She seems to be the kind of girl who was always outside of the clique and isn’t as petty or catty as the rest of the group.  Thankfully, she has a strong sense of who she is already and is wonderfully confident in just being herself.  Even if that includes some weird sexual stuff, being proud of that falling off a cruise ship story and owning up to her farts.

Thing is, we see a level past the superficial with Megan that the rest of the gals do not bring.  When Annie has become the pariah of the group, Megan is the only one willing to talk to her.  And it is not the usual fake girl talk, “Oh, it’ll be alright.”  Megan gets real with Annie, while keeping to her intense, butch attitude.  “I’m life Annie, and I’m biting you in the ass!”

What Melissa McCarthy has dared to do with this role was create a unique female character that feels more genuine and memorable than anyone else in the film.  Burping, farting, having a real deal-with-it conversation is not something Hollywood shows women doing without sounding like a cure-that-feminine-itch commercial.  Even though Megan comes off immediately as gross, McCarthy can make her surprisingly refreshing.

Whether she was shitting in a sink or driving a van full of puppies, Melissa McCarthy was spot on and made me laugh until I cried.  It is nice to see an unusual comedy role get some well deserved recognition.

“I want to apologize.  I’m not even confident on which end that came out of.”