Kristen Wiig's "Bridesmaids" Debuts at SXSW To Strong Reviews!

Last night saw the SXSW screening of Bridesmaids take place and buzz has been unbelievably positive for the Kristen Wiig film. While just one review has been posted - it’s still early! - many online critics took to Twitter to share their thoughts and many had effusive praise for the ensemble comedy.

Drew McWeeny of HitFix tweeted Bridesmaids director Paul Feig to say, “ Sir… you crushed it. It’s great. This is, frankly, the film I would want to see you making. Lovely.” McWeeny later Tweeted that, “Wiig is so eminently crushworthy in every moment of “Bridesmaids.” She will break many hearts.” (Check out McWeeny’s full review here.)

The Playlist tweeted, “Bridesmaids was great. Wiig totally shines, fantastic comedic performance.”

HeyUGuys tweeted, “Just saw Bridesmaids and loved it. Defo not the female Hangover but a great standalone new movie. Wiig is awesome!”

Eric Vespe of Ain’t It Cool noted the long running time (Feig showed a rough cut last night) - “Bridesmaids was better than I expected… some real heart, good laughs, but a bit choppy and too long. There’s a tighter cut in there.”

Slashfilm simply Tweeted, “Bridesmaids was Awesome.”

As the screening only ended at 2.30am, we will have to wait a few more hours for some more full reviews to be posted. But if early word on a rough cut of the film is this positive, I think we have a winner on our hands.

SNL Backstage -

SNL Backstage - Zach Galifianakis Shaves His Head Like Mr. T

Bill Hader, Vernon Chatman working on secret project for Scott Rudin | The Playlist

While Hader - who has long had the most interesting film career of everyone at SNL - was careful to reveal nothing about this project, he did provide an update on his slasher movie for Judd Apatow which he co-wrote with Simon Rich.

“Well, I’m not sure it’s called ‘House of Joel’ anymore. I don’t know what’s happening with it exactly. Judd, me, and [”Human Giant” director] Jason Woliner are gonna meet in L.A. soon to figure out what the next steps are. It’s a funny, funny script and it’s Judd’s take on a slasher movie. It’s been a long gestating project, but i think it’s worth it because it just keeps getting better.”

When pressed for further details on the plot, Hader revealed -

“I play a guy who finds out that his girlfriend was basically a Laurie Strode-type [Jamie Lee Curtis’ character] from ‘Halloween.’ She’s been hiding the fact that 15 years ago she survived this horrible night and the way I find this out is that I inadvertently take her back to her home town as a surprise and reawaken all the evil. It’s kind of about getting over your girlfriend’s past kinda thing. It’s sort of like having to deal with, ‘You did what!?’”

 

Seth Meyers expressing gratitude for being written into a sketch.

Zach Galifianakis/Jessie J - Thoughts

Post your thoughts on last night's show! How did Zach Galifianakis fare in his second stint as host? Do you expect Jessie J to repeat her success in America? Favourite sketch? MVP of the show?

Comment, comment, comment!

Interview with Kristen Wiig | Movieline

Check out this interview with Kristen Wiig in which she discusses Paul, her SNL characters and her upcoming movie, Bridesmaids.

SNL Promo #2 - Zach Galifianakis/Jessie J

SNL Promo - Zach Galifianakis/Jessie J

Kristen Wiig to Appear On Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday March 16!

Andy Samberg Joins Cast of "The Hand Job"

Andy Samberg is among a host of actors who have attached themselves to the upcoming Aubrey Plaza starrer, "The Hand Job". The film, written by Maggie Carey - wife of Bill Hader, will also star Donald Glover, Alia Shawkat, Mae Whitman and Connie Britton. The raunchy teen comedy is about a teenage girl who, upon graduating from high-school, decides to gain some sexual experience before departing for college.

Colour me excited.

SNL Promo #1 - Zach Galifianakis/Jessie J

SNL Promo - Zach Galifianakis/Jessie J

In which an innocent game of "Got Your Nose!" leads to tears.

Bill Hader on The Sound of Young America (PODCAST)

Jesse Thorn, host of The Sound of Young America, interviews Bill Hader in the latest installment of TSOYA. The Sound of Young America is one of my favourite podcasts so this should be an aural treat for Hader fans. 

Right-click to download.

Bill Hader Attached to "Vaughn Meader" and "Henchmen" | The Playlist

The Playlist is reporting today that Bill Hader is attached to star in a biopic of American impressionist/comedian “Vaughn Meader” as well as an action-comedy entitled “Henchmen”.

“Vaughn Meader” is written by The Wrestler scribe Rob Siegel and is about the career of JFK impersonator Vaughn Meader who saw his career grind to a halt when Kennedy was assassinated. The project is currently set up at Ben Stiller’s production company Red Hour Films and Hader is attached to play the titular character. “It’s a real interesting piece and in a weird way it feeds into now, just like people becoming super famous overnight, reality stars and stuff. This guy became crazy famous, the president was talking about this guy and then it all went away. It’s really interesting,” Hader told The Playlist.

“Henchmen” meanwhile is based on a script written by Russell Sharman, Owen Egerton, and Chris Mass, with Akiva Schaffer and Bill Hader currently reworking it. “The film is about two guys who don’t realize it, but they’re two henchman for like the badguy in a ‘Bourne’ movie and then they slowly figure who that they’re working for the wrong guys, but like doing it in the actual style of a ‘Bourne’ movie,” said Hader.

Hader will next be seen in the sci-fi comedy Paul.

Taran Killam Talks "Les Jeunes de Paris"

Have you ever been curious as to what the origins of Les Jeunes de Paris are? Well, Slate caught up with Taran Killam to ask him just that! Check out the brief interview here.

Fred Armisen + Bill Hader lend voices to recording of Unfamiliar Fishes

SNL stars Fred Armisen and Bill Hader, as well as SNL alum Maya Rudolph, are among the stars that have lent their voices to the upcoming audio book recording of Sarah Vowell's Unfamiliar Fishes. Unfamiliar Fishes recounts the history of Hawaii and the efforts of New England missionaries to Americanize the island. Written with her characteristic wit and erudition, Unfamiliar Fishes is an informative and entertaining insight into a fascinating period of American history.

The audio book is now available for pre-order on Amazon (here) and will be released on March 22, 2011. Having been accompanied on many a bus-ride by the audio recording of Sarah Vowell's Assassination Vacation, I can guarantee that you'll love it, especially if you have even the vaguest interest in American history. 

 
 

Miley Cyrus/The Strokes - Thoughts

Post your thoughts on last night's show! How did Miley Cyrus fare in her first time out at SNL? Favourite sketch? Worst sketch? MVP of the show?

Comment, comment, comment!