Intown Rundown: Funny girls

It’s no secret that I’m a girly-girl. This week’s column is admittedly more feminine than usual – including a review of “Bridesmaids,” tips on how to make a wedding cake martini and the dish on when the long-awaited H&M will open at the Galleria Mall – but I don’t think anyone is above a little bit of delectable gossip. Let’s get right into it.

REEL TALK: ‘Bridesmaids’

I have grown tired of hearing that women can’t be funny. Unfortunately, up to this point, there haven’t been many movies that I can cite in my counterargument.
Most of the recent “female comedies” depict women as shrill, petty and catty. Take 2009’s “Bride Wars” – it was painful and embarrassing to watch. We've all had our disagreements, but who would actually go to such great lengths to disrupt their best friend's upcoming nuptials by sneaking into a hair salon and replacing her blonde hair dye with blue, or causing her spray tan to go turbo-orange?
I don't know any women like that. I don't want to, either -- frankly, nobody does. Therein lies the problem.
“Bridesmaids” succeeds where its predecessors have failed: it features talented comedic actresses in a film that is undeniably uproarious and will appeal to everyone. It may be challenging to convince your boyfriend to see a film called “Bridemaids” without him quickly dismissing it as a “chick flick” – getting him inside the theater will probably be more than half the battle. Once he’s there, however, I dare him not to laugh as hard as he did at “The Hangover,” if not harder.
Kristen Wiig’s character is one everyone can relate to. Annie’s business went bust during the recession and she still has to drive by her boarded-up bakery in her beat-up car on her way to a lunch date that she probably can’t afford. She works at a job she hates – helping happy couples pick out engagement rings at a jewelry counter -- and barely scrapes by. In order to pay the rent, she has to live with creepy British roommates (one is played by Rebel Wilson, one of the funniest characters in the whole film). The only man in her life is a friend-with-benefits (John Hamm, played to perfection) who can’t get rid of her fast enough after he’s done with her. While her life continues to become increasingly unbearable, her best friend’s is on an upswing: she’s getting married and has chosen her as maid of honor. And bridesmaids dresses and bachelorette parties ain’t cheap.
Hilarity ensues as the bride-to-be (Maya Rudolph) introduces Annie to her fellow bridesmaids: a prissy newlywed, a harried mom, a tough broad and the ultimate perfectionist, Helen, a constant one-upper who quickly becomes Annie’s nemesis. We all know someone like Helen and love to hate her: anything you can do, she can do better – and she’ll never miss an opportunity to remind you. Each pre-wedding event goes even more disastrously wrong than the last. There are scenes in “Bridesmaids” that will completely gross you out, make you laugh until you cry, and will cause you to chuckle to yourself aloud the next day in the middle of the grocery store and hope that no one noticed.
Hopefully, “Bridesmaids” will pave the way for more funny movies featuring funny girls, instead of the obnoxious, vapid fare we’ve become accustomed to. Women don’t have to simply be relegated to ripping each other’s hair out, posing as a pretty accessory, or being the wet blanket preventing the guys from going wild at the bachelor party. We can do comedy just as well – if not better. And now, with the help of “Bridesmaids,” there’s no shortage of proof.

DRINK OF THE WEEK

In honor of “Bridesmaids,” my drink this week is the wedding cake martini. My very own recipe aficionado, my sister Hilary Diodato, has recommended her own recipe. For one wedding cake martini, you will need the following ingredients: 1 oz. heavy cream, 1 oz. vanilla vodka, 1 oz Amaretto, 1/2 oz. clear creme de cacao and 1/2 oz. pineapple juice. She writes:
“Wedding cakes are all about pomp and circumstance, and a wedding cake martini should be enjoyed in same frame of mind. Therefore, I vehemently discourage consuming this cocktail out of a naked glass. For the rim, grate some white chocolate wafers or bars using a microplane onto a shallow dish. Moisten the rim of your martini glass with a touch of water, and roll the upside-down glass into the plate of chocolate shavings. Next, pour all drink ingredients into a martini shaker filled with ice, and shake until thoroughly combined. Strain the mixture into your martini glass, and toss in a vanilla pirouette cookie or extra-large white chocolate curls just before serving.”

WATCH THIS

- The finale of “Dancing With the Stars” will be on next Monday on ABC at 8 p.m., with Kirstie Alley, Chelsea Kane and Hines Ward boogying it out for the win. Alley has lost an unbelievable amount of weight since the beginning of the season – good for her! Apparently, participating in “Dancing With the Stars” is a foolproof way to getting into fantastic shape. Kelly Osbourne still looks amazing. All you need is a reality show, a professional athletic career or a famous family and you’re there.

- The networks are now announcing what will go, what will stay and what will be new for the fall 2011 season. Has your favorite show been canceled? Stop by the Futon Critic (www.futoncritic.com) to find a list of the cancellations. There weren’t many shockers this year – many were newbies that didn’t quite find an audience – and there is a lot to look forward to this fall.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

- Western New Yorkers have been anxiously anticipating the arrival of the new H&M at the Galleria Mall. I’ve been checking online and asking around for months, and the only information they’ve provided is that it’s “coming soon,” probably early this summer. I finally decided to call mall management and was informed that the new H&M store will not open until July. It seems that they're being very noncommittal about the exact opening date – I wonder why?

- The Grape Expectations Wine Festival will be held at the Clarion Hotel in Dunkirk this Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. The event will showcase wines from the Chautauqua and Lake Erie Wine Trail, with food, music, door prizes and a complimentary wine glass (while supplies last). Wine tasting is $10 and specialty food is $10. You must be 21 to attend. Tickets are available at the door or at P&G, or by calling the Fredonia Chamber of Commerce at 679-1565 or Stephanie Pulvino at 366-4070, Ext. 1237.

- 41 West will have live music by Endless Summer on Friday and Passion Works on Saturday, with tunes each night from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

- Coal Train, a country and blues band, will be playing Coughlan's in Fredonia on Saturday at 9 p.m.

- The next film featured in the Fredonia Opera House Cinema Series is “Win-Win,” playing Saturday at 8 p.m. and again on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The movie stars Paul Giamatti about an attorney who volunteers as a high school wrestling coach and has garnered overwhelmingly positive reviews for its sweet, inspirational story. I've only noticed it playing at a theater in Buffalo so this may be it's only appearance on a Chautauqua County big screen.

- April Verch, Canadian fiddler and step dancer, was featured at the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics. On Friday, she will be performing on the Opera House stage at 8 p.m. as part of the Folk in Fredonia series. Call 679-1891 for tickets.

- As Buffalo rose to prominence in the 19th and 20th century, it was one of the largest brewing centers in the country. Learn all about Buffalo’s brewing history at a presentation by teacher, lecturer and antique collector Peter Jablonski on Monday at 7 p.m. at the Fredonia Opera House. Bring your trays, signs, and/or brewery-related items for free appraisal after the program. The event is presented by the Fredonia Preservation Society.

- It’s fashion for a good cause. To benefit the Robert H. Jackson Center in Jamestown, a “ladies’ night out” will be held tonight at 6 p.m. with gourmet hors' d'oeuvres and a reception in the Jackson Center's historic Kent mansion. The theme is “Gondolas and Glamour.” There will be makeovers for two lucky audience members, a fashion show featuring summer ensembles by Skillman's of Bemus Point, and a raffle for some pretty great prizes, including jewelry from Carlson’s Jewelers, a Vera Bradley luggage set from Skillman's, an Indulge Salon gift certificate, and a grand prize of a free trip to Venice, Italy (you must be present to win). Seating is limited and advanced reservations are required; RSVP in advance by stopping by the Jackson Center with payment (305 E. Fourth St., Jamestown) or by calling the Jackson Center at 483-6646. I called on Wednesday afternoon to see if it was too late to RSVP and some spaces were still available. Good luck!

April Diodato is the OBSERVER Lifestyles editor. Send comments and events to adiodato@observertoday.com