Bridesmaids ****

Not only the funniest movie of the year so far, "Bridesmaids" is so much better than the "Hangover" ilk because it's about something more than blacking out and embarrassing yourself. It's about friendship and being single and being lonely and broke and embarrassing yourself. With this movie, Kristen Wiig has catapulted herself into the writer/comic actress stratosphere. When her sweet and supportive best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) announces her engagement, Wiig's character Annie springs into action as the maid of honor, even though she is emotionally and financially drained The ensuing complications are hysterically funny, but are grounded in character and feeling. The supporting bridesmaids are a delight, especially Melissa McCarthy as the overweight, fearless sister of the groom, and Rose Byrne as the ultra-rich, ultra-competitive, ultra-bitch pretender to the maid of honor title. The audience was laughing so much, I may have to see it again to catch all the lines.