Bride Hard arrives with a premise as wild as its title suggests: Rebel Wilson as a secret agent maid-of-honour caught in the middle of a hostage crisis at her best friend’s wedding. Equal parts ‘best friend comedy’ and action spoof, it’s the best kind of mashup that should work on paper. But despite a few standout moments and sharp comedic chemistry between its leads, the film stumbles hard, largely due to inconsistent pacing and jarring editing that pulls the viewers out just when it should be pulling them in.

At its heart, the film is about friendship and growing together when the inevitable changes in relationships rear their uncomfortable head. Sam (Wilson), an undercover CIA operative, reconnects with her childhood best friend Betsy (Anna Camp) for the big day. What begins as a heartfelt bachelorette party, where Sam finally shows up and steps into her duties, quickly spirals into chaos as Sam tries to do a job while being present to her distant friend. This leads to the final breakdown between the two girls, but Sam still attends the wedding. Unbeknownst to anyone in the bridal party, armed mercenaries storm the event, forcing Sam to reveal her secret identity and fight to save her best friend and everyone at the wedding. That tension between lifelong loyalty and the demands of a dangerous job is the emotional core of the film. And to its credit, there are genuine attempts to explore how friendships evolve, fracture, and heal under pressure.

Wilson and Camp are the glue holding this movie together. Their chemistry is undeniable, built on the solid foundation of the previous work (Pitch Perfect). There’s an ease to their banter that makes their characters’ bond believable, even when the plot becomes increasingly unbelievable. But unfortunately, the film’s pacing quickly becomes its greatest flaw. One moment, it’s sprinting through action sequences at breakneck speed – complete with blood-splattered wedding dresses and bridal party revenge, and the next it screeches to a halt with long, melodramatic dialogue that feels forced and more awkward than emotional. It’s hard to stay connected to the story when the film itself can’t seem to decide what kind of story it wants to be.

The editing doesn’t help. Instead of smoothing tonal transitions or anchoring the chaos with rhythm, the cuts feel random and disjointed to the point of distraction. The action lacks tension, and the comedy often falls flat due to poor timing. And while some might call that chaotic energy part of the charm, it ultimately makes the film difficult to invest in emotionally, or even follow logistically.

Still, credit where it’s due: there are bright spots. A few genuinely funny gags land with charm, including a delicious kitchen fight and a hilarious use of “My Neck, My Back” during a shootout that is as absurd as it sounds. And yes, seeing bridesmaids fire antique cannons while dodging grenades is… memorable, if nothing else. The commitment to the bit is admirable.

The supporting cast, however, felt largely wasted, which is a shame because it was cast with some serious talent. Anna Chlumsky (My Girl, Veep), Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Only Murders In The Building), Justin Hartley (This Is Us). Most are given a little more than generic lines and the B-story was actually well crafted, all things considered. Chlumsky who plays Virginia, gives a cartoonish performance as the catty rival maid of honor and Randolph, who I love with my heart and soul does the best with what she was given. Hartley, post his NBC hit, has been typecast as hot male lead once again and gives the same song and dance in this project.

What frustrated me the most is that the foundation is there. A film about the emotional fallout of friendship in adulthood through the lens of high-octane comedy is a brilliant concept. Sadly, in this reality, that is not the movie we got.

Bride Hard is in theatres on June 20th, 2025.