Bachelorette (2012)

Directed by Leslye Headland. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Lizzy Caplan, Isla Fisher, Rebel Wilson, James Marsden, Kyle Bornheimer, Adam Scott, Hayes MacArthur, Shauna Miles, Ann Dowd, Ella Rae Peck, Paul Corning, Andrew Rannells. [R]

Crass cross-section of two recent hit comedies (The Hangover and Bridesmaids), drained of any shred of inspiration, humor, and goodwill those two movies might have had. When “pigface” Becky (Wilson) announces that she’s engaged, her three old high school “friends”—in actuality: bullies—join her for an impromptu bachelorette party, old wounds rise, issues are grudgingly sorted out, and (most obviously) raucous, foul-mouthed, puerile shenanigans ensue. Grim, supremely cynical, and shocking-just-for-the-sake-of-shock-value outing for a trio of actresses who have proven to be talented elsewhere are reduced to playing unbearably obnoxious and despicable people for about an hour-and-a-half, and the viewer gets to tag along, hooray! Doesn’t even bother trying to leaven all the abuse and irresponsibility with a little heart or insight, but that’s just as well since it would have unpleasantly stuck out like a bloodstain on a wedding dress. Adapted by writer/director Headland from one of her own plays; Will Ferrell and Adam McKay are among the co-producers.

14/100