Cinema Scholars reviews the new action/comedy Bride Hard, directed by Simon West. The film stars Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp, Anna Chlumsky, Justin Hartley, and Stephen Dorff. Magenta Light Pictures is releasing Bride Hard in theaters nationwide on June 20, 2025.
Introduction
It’s wedding season, so cue the annual onslaught of nuptial-centric movies. From Father of the Bride and Wedding Crashers to Bridesmaids and the more recent You’re Cordially Invited, the enduring popularity of the subgenre means these films will continue to be churned out indefinitely. While these types of “chick flicks” may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s hard to deny the appeal of the universal themes of love, family, and friendship that make the stories so endearing.
When done right, that is. In other cases where the context and tone don’t quite meld, the result can be lackluster. Despite some clever wedding gags, a couple of tepid laughs, and incredible supporting performances from Anna Chlumsky and others, the new Rebel Wilson-starrer Bride Hard could not be saved.
Synopsis
Sam (Wilson) and Betsy (Anna Camp) have been besties since childhood. Despite moving apart when the girls were just 11, they have managed to maintain a tight bond through the years. Naturally, when Betsy announced her engagement, she asked Sam to be her maid of honor.
Flash forward to the binge-fueled bachelorette party in Paris, where it is revealed to the audience that Sam has a double life as a secret operative for a clandestine organization. As she ducks in and out of the festivities to tend to her spy business, clueless Betsy and her fellow bridesmaids begin to question Sam’s loyalty.
Flash forward again to the weekend of the big event, held at the private island of Betsy’s soon-to-be in-laws. Despite their strained relationship, Sam shows up ready to celebrate her friend’s dream wedding. That is, until a gang of armed men interrupts the ceremony with guns blazing. Now it’s up to Sam to save the day and her friendship with her childhood bestie.
Analysis
Bride Hard tries and fails at being the raucous comedy we’ve come to expect from this kind of film fare. While there are certainly plenty of jokes throughout the film, the actual laughs are few and far between. In most instances, setups for funny scenes fall completely flat, and pithy one-liners lack punch. A few attempts at crass humor elicit more cringes than chuckles. Though the film does have its bright spots with clever wedding-themed gags and some comical sidekick antics, the action comedy falls short of big laughs.
The action aspect of Bride Hard isn’t quite the caliber we’re used to seeing in this kind of mid-budget flick. Still, there are some memorable sequences as Sam takes on the baddies around the estate. Creative kills with weaponized wedding decor give the movie points for originality. In addition to the ho-hum humor, the logic of the characters is as thin as the plot. While it might seem ridiculous to judge the merits of a silly action comedy, some of the emotional and narrative leaps just don’t compute.
Performances
While the overall timing and narrative leave much to be desired, the strong performances in the film mercifully buoy Bride Hard. Rebel Wilson carries the project as best she can as leading lady Sam. Ever charming and affable, Wilson’s take on the duplicitous character is also sly and silly at the same time. As Betsy, Anna Camp is in full blushing bride mode throughout. Camp makes cliche look adorable as she perfectly portrays her character’s somewhat vapid goodie-goodness.
The real scene stealer of Bride Hard, however, is Anna Chlumsky as type-A sister-in-law Virginia. Chlumsky exudes a hilarious air of superiority with her wide-eyed disdain for Sam. Some of the funnier scenes of the film revolve around Chlumsky as her character’s intensely controlling nature is on full display.
Supporting Players
Other supporting performances include a pretty fun comedic turn for Justin Hartley as Chris, an entitled and conniving friend of the family. And Da’Vine Joy Randolph as raunchy bridesmaid Lydia brings some legit laughs.
Special kudos go to eternal bad boy Stephen Dorff, who further cements his status as the guy you love to hate. He brings his special brand of villainous gusto to Bride Hard in full force, providing a much-needed jolt of gravitas to the film.
Conclusion
In some comedies, nonsensical narratives are easily forgiven when matched with smart storytelling and big laughs. Unfortunately, even the strong performances and clever action of Bride Hard can’t overcome an unlikely plot and humor that just don’t click.
Bride Hard is currently in theaters nationwide.
Read more Cinema Scholars reviews:
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