Melissa McCarthy · RewatchVault

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2011 film

Bill Simmons · Mallory Rubin · Mina Kimes

Aired January 5, 2021

Displaying 1 episode

Bridesmaids The Rewatchables January 5, 2021

In the discussion (5)

Approx. transcript time · 01:47:58Read transcript

Melissa McCarthy is the answer, echoed with "That's what I had, too" and agreement that it has to be her.
Wiig merits a nod as lead and co-writer, but McCarthy became an icon, her career skyrocketed and she got an Oscar nomination.
It is a tough beat for Wiig, the most important character and co-writer, but McCarthy clearly won.
Rose Byrne is the Sammy Watkins of the movie next to the two stars.
Wiig is the performance you recognize more on later viewings; McCarthy knocks your socks off the first time, like John Belushi in Animal House.

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Bridesmaids The Rewatchables January 5, 2021

In the discussion (13)

Approx. transcript time · 01:27:10Read transcript

Maybe the film is Guy Fieri's Apex Mountain.
Kristen Wiig: yes, while still on SNL.
Jon Hamm: definitely, with Mad Men and The Town happening at the same time.
Melissa McCarthy is a tough one; The Heat is praised, and this is called her best performance, though her New York Times best-actors-of-the-century listing is debated.
Maya Rudolph: not her apex; her SNL stretch and The Good Place judge run rank higher.
Rose Byrne: no; Neighbors is more likely. Apatow: probably not, since he did not direct it.
For wedding movies it is a finals between My Best Friend's Wedding and this, possibly adding Wedding Crashers.
Paul Feig, who created Freaks and Geeks and made Ghostbusters, definitely peaked here critically and commercially.
For shit scenes in movies, Succession and Harold and Kumar are cited and it deserves a follow-up pod, but this would be the peak; it is agreed as Apex Mountain for diarrhea in a movie.
A Lamar Jackson aside becomes the joke podcast Leave Lamar Alone.
Chris O'Dowd: yes, joked against Thor: The Dark World.
Wilson Phillips peaked in the early 90s, but the film gives them a belated or second Apex Mountain.
Milwaukee's apex was Laverne and Shirley.

Bridesmaids The Rewatchables January 5, 2021

Annie's boss at the store (the Best in Show actor); Andy Buckley; Tim Heidecker

In the discussion (6)

Approx. transcript time · 01:18:44Read transcript

Three nominees are announced; the first is the air marshal, played by Ben Falcone, who is married to Melissa McCarthy in real life and was unknown by name before the research.
Annie's boss at the store is called the clear pick, identified only as Hamilton Swan in Best in Show; a voice that shouts "Oh, Busy Bee" whenever he appears calls it their pick.
He also appears in the Rachel Bloom comedy crazy ex-girlfriend, and seeing him prompts the Leo finger-point.
Wendi McLendon-Covey might qualify.
Another participant adds a couple of That Guys: Andy Buckley, Dave Wallace from The Office, in a tiny role, and Tim Heidecker as Doug, whose scenes were apparently cut.
Tim Heidecker is big in this participant's household (Tim and Eric; I Think You Should Leave), and it is weird he does nothing in the film. — Mina Kimes

Bridesmaids The Rewatchables January 5, 2021

Rebel Wilson and Busy Philipps for Megan; Mindy Kaling for Lillian; Greta Gerwig and Judy Greer; Paul Rudd's cut blind date

In the discussion (6)

Approx. transcript time · 01:17:28Read transcript

Several actresses, including Rebel Wilson and Busy Philipps, auditioned for Melissa McCarthy's part.
Maya Rudolph won the Lillian part over Mindy Kaling, judged the right choice.
Greta Gerwig and Judy Greer auditioned for roles but did not make it.
A Paul Rudd blind-date scene with Annie was cut and is on a home-video release; cutting Rudd is baffling.
An unrated-cut blind date leaves Annie stuck with the man's seven-year-old; funny but it does not belong.
Paul Rudd or Jason Sudeikis would have been good in the Rhodes role, held for the recasting category.

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2011