As a wedding rom-com fan, Bride Hard seemed like the type of romp that I wouldn’t mind spending an hour or two watching. Sometimes, an action flick coupled with a few laughs is exactly what you are hoping for. Unfortunately, Simon West’s bridal-themed project just isn’t as entertaining as you would imagine, even if you are looking for silly escapism. Despite Rebel Wilson’s signature comedy and her reunion with Pitch Perfect co-star Anna Camp, there is little that can justify an audience member giving this film a chance. Best described as Bridesmaids meets Die Hard, Bride Hard follows a badass secret agent named Sam (Wilson), whose latest mission is to stand by Betsy (Camp) at the altar as her maid of honor. Yet, as simple as this task might be, she is soon dismissed from it after sneaking out of a bachelorette party that she was responsible for organizing. Even after being relegated to a mere bridesmaid, Sam has a hard time not ruining her best friend’s big day. That is, until mercenaries invade the ceremony, demanding that the protagonist put her combative skills to good use.
‘Bride Hard’ Is Unfunny and Underserves Its Stacked Cast

For those watching the trailer, the immediate draw might be Bride Hard’s star-studded cast. Veep alum Anna Chlumsky, Oscar-winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Gigi Zumbado (who also played a part in the Pitch Perfect franchise) are all starring as bridesmaids here, meaning that you’re likely to feel some sense of trust that the film will at least deliver in a performance standpoint. Still, none of them are truly given the opportunity to play into their comedic timing, making their roles wasted potential. Although Randolph pulls some laughs with her character’s flirtatious interactions with a man of the cloth, she is significantly underserved by a script peppered with lazy jokes. As for Justin Hartley, who plays an attractive yet brainless best man, he delivers a few comedic beats when opposite Wilson. Bride Hard also only vaguely addresses Sam and Betsy’s long-term friendship. The characters are understood to have been neighbors during their childhood, but have since rarely seen each other, given that Sam is often warped into top-secret operations. The fact that she is called to be Betsy’s maid of honor without having ever met the groom is strange to say the least. Of course, relationships change over time, but there is little detail as to why the characters remain close to this day. It’s even more bizarre to see Chlumsky’s Virginia, Betsy’s high-strung sister-in-law, trying so hard to replace Sam for the maid of honor post when she barely knows Betsy or her wedding day expectations.

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While watching Bride Hard, I couldn’t help but draw parallels to Jennifer Lopez’s Shotgun Wedding, which similarly followed a wedding ceremony hijacked by gunmen who take everyone into captivity. Instead of a maid of honor swooping in to save the day, the bride and groom fire off bazookas in the hopes of keeping their friends and family safe from harm. Although I wasn’t particularly fond of the Prime Video bridal action flick, in hindsight, if I had to pick either or to RSVP to, it is that film’s invitation that I would consider. At least Shotgun Wedding had Jennifer Coolidge uttering hilarious one-liners and a comic push-and-pull between Lopez and Josh Duhamel.
‘Bride Hard’ Is Saved By Rebel Wilson’s Action Chops and a Pitch Perfect Reunion

All of this said, two things keep Bride Hard from being a total trainwreck. West’s previous directorial efforts have been predominantly action-focused, which translates to the effectiveness of some action sequences here. As someone who helmed Con Air and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, West knows what it takes to create compelling fights onscreen, and a couple of Bride Hard’s action sequences are quite inventive, with Sam using everything from a flat iron to cooking utensils. As the character dodges bullets while in heels, a long red dress, and a slick, Ariana Grande-inspired ponytail, Wilson proves that she has what it takes to be an action star if she so wishes. Unfortunately, her clever stunt work will likely be overlooked given the film’s lack of sense of humor and clichéd narrative. Although Sam manages to combat the bad guys, the script misses the opportunity to use her solo mission as a means for the character to reflect on her work as a secret agent, especially given how upset her team was with her at the start of the film. Having Wilson and Camp reunite is also one of the action comedy’s saving graces. Although it would’ve been much better to have seen them re-team for another a cappella competition with the rest of the Barden Bellas (here’s hoping Pitch Perfect 4 happens), it’s still sweet to see the two actresses side-by-side in a wedding-gone-wrong. Those who have watched Pitch Perfect will likely feel more compelled to accept their poorly developed friendship in this film solely because you’ve seen them act opposite each other before. If they hadn’t been co-stars for the three franchise installments, Bride Hard would’ve turned out worse than it already is. As a whole, West’s uninspired and, quite frankly, unfunny bridal romp isn’t the June wedding you’d hope to attend in even the bleakest of days. With a half-baked script — which doesn’t allow for the film’s stellar ensemble to fully lean into their comedic chops — and lack of character development between best friends Sam and Betsy, you’ll likely want to quit the film mid-watch or pass on the opportunity altogether to see wedding tents, chocolate fountains, and perfectly ornamented flower arrangements get blown up by machine guns. If it weren’t for Bride Hard’s inventive action bits or the nostalgia chiming in when Wilson and Camp share the screen, the film wouldn’t have anything to save it from fading into oblivion. Gladly, these two aspects help to at least add the slightest quality to an otherwise forgettable, wedding-themed action comedy. Bride Hard comes to theaters on June 20.

Bride Hard

Rebel Wilson and Anna Camp’s ‘Pitch Perfect’ reunion isn’t the sing-along we’d hope, but instead a forgettable, destination wedding action flick.

Release Date

June 20, 2025

Director

Simon West

Writers

Shaina Steinberg

Producers

Cassian Elwes, Colleen Camp, Joel David Moore, Max Osswald, Kevin Ulrich

Pros & Cons

Some action sequences and props used to orchestrate them are inventive.
Wilson and Camp’s natural chemistry helps their characters’ friendship be more palatable.

The film’s script is filled with lazy jokes, leading to only a handful of laughs throughout its runtime.
Actors like Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Anna Chlumsky aren’t given room to fully lean into their comedic timing.
There is surface level exploration of the main character’s friendship.
Sam’s resolution doesn’t lead to growth or slightest hint of character development.