Yes, it's the story that doesn't want to die. With word emerging that Universal was planning to move ahead with a "Bridsemaids" sequel without its co-writer and star Kristen Wiig, it seems everyone has an opinion. And most of that opinion is "it's a terrible idea." In fact, those were the words used by Melissa McCarthy when she was recently asked about making a followup without Wiig. But her co-star, Wendi McLendon-Covey — who played the under-sexed, over-worked Rita — is a bit more optimistic about things all working out.
"She never said that she didn't want to do it," McLendon-Covey pointed out to E!. "All she said was that she's not working on it right this minute because someone gave her the opportunity to write and direct her own film so, duh, she's going to do that first. So no. I think all she's waiting for is for her and Annie [Mumolo] to come up with an idea that's equally as good."
We presume the film Wiig might be writing and directing is "Clown Girl," an adaptation of the cult novel by Monica Drake that she optioned herself a while ago to turn into a movie. The story follows Nita, a clown struggling to make ends meet and putting the man of her dreams (appropriately named Rex Galore) through clown college. Definitely sounds like some Wiig-esque material, and it seems the "Bridesmaids" success has afforded her an opportunity to take it on, or at least some kind of project she can make her first directorial mark on.
So Universal will wait. Or not. But without Wiig and McCarthy, the endeavor would be sort of pointless, so expect the studio to wait it out until the former is good and ready to return. Meanwhile, McLendon-Covey herself has ridden the wave of the hit comedy, scoring roles in the upcoming "What To Expect When You're Expecting" and "Magic Mike."
It is rare for any comedy to work beginning to end and there are scenes in Bridesmaids which just don't work and drag on interminably. The toast scene and the mansion meltdown scenes in particular. But, there are other scenes that are truly LOL funny and scenes of great charm. In comedy the question isn't "Is the film end-to-end great?" but "Does the number of great scenes out-number the bad?" In Bridesmaids it does. Best comedy of the year, but not Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Writer or Director great. That is inflating it too far. Looking forward to Bridesmaid II.
Christ, Kevin, do you ever write about ANYTHING else?!
Thanks for the update. However I believe you mean to say without instead of with in the opening paragraph. I could be wrong.