Hanna Mrozek
25 April 2014
Human Communication
Bridesmaids Film Analysis
Of all the important relationships in an individual’s life, the “best friend” relationship may be one of the strongest. The film, Bridesmaids exemplifies this best friend relationship between the two main characters Annie, and Lillian. The story unfolds during a difficult time in main character Annie’s life, as she is working a low paying job, driving a beat-up car, and barely making rent. When best friend Lillian unexpectedly gets engaged, Annie finds herself fulfilling Lillian’s wishes and serving as her maid of honor.
However, as the story develops, Annie and Lillian’s friendship is put to the test as they confront the trials and tribulations of planning a wedding while overcoming the challenges of everyday life.
When looking at Annie and Lillian’s friendship throughout the movie the “5 steps to termination” of a relationship is a clear theme that can be analyzed. When the film starts they are clearly in the “bonding” stage of friendship and are the closet that friends can be. The entire rest of the movie showcases how the relationship falls apart, and the 5 steps to termination can be used to explain and analyze circumstances throughout the film.
To begin, the first step to termination of a relationship is differentiating, or pulling apart. One scene that illustrates this step in the movie takes place on a bus to Chicago.
After taking a relaxant with alcohol on a plane ride to Lillian’s bachelorette party in
Vegas, Annie’s disorderly conduct on the plane gets her taken away in handcuffs.
Because the bridal party is not allowed to take a return plane home, they are stuck on a

coach bus. Annie is apologizing to Lillian for her behavior and promises that she will make it up to Lillian for her bridal shower. At this point, Lillian is fed up with Annie’s actions and says she does not want Annie planning her bridal shower. Instead, Lillian is giving the responsibility to Helen, another member of the party who she thinks is better equipped and more emotionally stable.
This shows the first step of relationship termination because Lillian is pulling away from Annie by not wanting to rely on her to plan this important event. They are no longer on the same page, and their interests do not align. The next two steps, circumscribing and stagnating can be analyzed in a scene that happens shortly after in
Annie’s car.
These next two steps are all about separation and ignoring, and when Annie calls
Lillian up after a wild night out with her love interest, these stages can be observed. The call goes straight to Lillian’s voicemail, and Annie’s tone and message she leaves showcases the tension between them. She makes comments like, “I hope you’re not mad at me” and “I haven’t spoken to you in awhile”. The fact that Lillian doesn’t pick up the phone in the first place shows lack of interest in speaking with her and a separation.
The fourth step is avoiding, and although from that phone call the viewer can see how they haven’t spoken or seen each other in awhile, there is a stronger feeling of avoidance when Annie arrives at Lillian’s bridal shower. Lillian’s surprised expression when she enters the party and her exclamation of “Annie you came?” demonstrates the long span of time they have avoided each other.
As the shower continues, Annie gets so fed up with Lillian’s new perfect life and what appears to be her new best friend Helen that she goes off on Lillian, insulting her

and accusing her of being a bad friend. At this point when they are arguing, they are vocalizing their dislike for one another, and again this exemplifies this avoidance stage.
The final in a relationship coming apart is termination. As Annie and Lillian’s fight reaches the climax, Lillian says to Annie, “If you’re going to act like this don’t even bother coming to my wedding”. This can be seen as the final straw that breaks apart their relationship. Annie is uninvited to the event she was supposed to be the maid of honor at, and she leaves the bridal shower furious at Lillian.
As the movie concludes, Annie and Lillian eventually come together and resolve their conflicts and make up. Although they go though the 5 stages of termination of a relationship that ultimately led to the end of their friendship, they are able to overcome their issues and realize the strength of their friendship. Annie stands as the maid of honor in Lillian’s wedding at the end, and things seem as strong as ever between the two of them.