‘Bridesmaids’: The one movie Lupita Nyong’o would watch “over and over again”
There haven’t been very many debut performances in the 21st century that have been as striking as Lupita Nyong’o’s as Patsey in 12 Years a Slave, which turned the unknown Kenyan actor into a globally recognised star.
Although Steven McQueen’s ‘Best Picture’-winning historical drama was immediately deemed a masterpiece, 12 Years a Slave would not have had nearly the same impact if it hadn’t had someone as powerful as Nyong’o in the critical role.
After she ended up winning the Academy Award for ‘Best Supporting Actress’, many expected that she would follow a career that included more dark and intense dramatic work, but that was not to be, for the actor had a surprising aptitude for commercial sensibilities. Although Walt Disney Studios has been the most popular studio of the era, Nyong’o was one of the rare stars to complete the trifecta of its three most important properties: she appeared in a Star Wars film, a Marvel Cinematic Universe instalment, and a live-action remake of one of Disney’s animated classics.
Although Nyong’o has dipped her toes back into horror, a genre she clearly has a lot of affection for, her favourite films tend to be more lighthearted, which showed when asked about which titles stood out to her, she named Bridesmaids, the 2011 comedy starring Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy.
“I could watch that over and over again,” Nyong’o said, “It’s smart, it’s about very deep subjects, and it’s funny all through”.
In an era in which R-rated comedies were reaching their peak in popularity, Bridesmaids hit at just the right time, with Judd Apatow, who had created a minor industry for himself by helping produce films starring talented comedians that he knew had potential, heading production. Thus, the film was a result of his long-standing friendship with director Paul Feig, with whom he had collaborated on the cult sitcom Freaks & Geeks and was primed to level up as a director.
However, what really turned the film into a phenomenon was Wiig’s screenplay, as the smart, funny, and surprisingly sincere exploration of female friendship offered opportunities for the entire cast to bring something unique to their characters, resulting in McCarthy’s breakthrough performance that ended up receiving the most attention as well as provided showcases for Rose Byrne, Ellie Kemper, and Maya Rudolph.
Bridesmaids wasn’t just a colossal box office hit, but an acclaimed title that was taken seriously by critical bodies, such that both Wiig’s script and McCarthy’s performance were nominated at the Academy Awards, and the film itself was in contention at the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice, and PGA ceremonies. It’s not hard to see why someone in Nyong’o’s position may have found it to be so relatable, as not only did it prove that audiences would seek out original movies, but that there was excitement around allowing women to be funny.
The actor has certainly kept herself busy, but between the emotional animated film The Wild Robot and Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic The Odyssey, her recent roles have been rather serious. Should Nyong’o be looking to take a break and make something a little bit lighter in tone, it would certainly be exciting to see her make a raunchy comedy in the style of her favourite Bridesmaids.
