BRIDE HARD (2025)

Genre: Comedy/Action
Director: Simon West
Cast: Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp, Anna Chlumsky, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Gigi Zumbado, Stephen Dorff, Justin Hartley  
Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Violence and Sexual References)
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 16 October 2025

Synopsis: Never mix business with pleasure. For badass secret agent Sam (Rebel Wilson), that hasn't been difficult. But now she's tasked with one of the hardest missions yet–being maid of honor for her childhood best friend. Deep out of her comfort zone, Sam barely maintains her cover as a dependable friend even on the day of the extravagant wedding. And what's worse, the three bridesmaids are judging her every move. But when a team of mercenaries take the uber-wealthy wedding guests hostage, it's up to Sam to do what none of the other bridesmaids can–wage war on anyone who would ruin the most important day of her best friend's life.

Movie Review:

When a character in Bride Hard remarks near the end, “It’s like a Hallmark Christmas movie,” she’s not far from the truth. Indeed, Bride Hard feels exactly like that - a straight-to-streaming Hallmark movie wearing an action-comedy disguise.

A laugh-free Rebel Wilson stars as Sam Doolan, a secret agent who takes time off from saving the world to serve as maid of honour at the wedding of her childhood best friend, Betsy O’Connell (Anna Camp). Unfortunately, Sam’s inability to switch off her spy instincts and her constant absence from Betsy’s Paris bachelorette party sparks the ire of the bride and her overzealous sister-in-law, Virginia (Anna Chlumsky).

When the lavish island wedding is suddenly attacked by terrorists led by Stephen Dorff, Sam must spring into action to save her best friend, the guests and possibly the entire ceremony from disaster.

From the title alone, you can tell it’s aiming to be a mash-up of Bridesmaids and Die Hard. In theory, that sounds like a fun recipe — raunchy comedy meets explosive action. And to its credit, the film includes both ingredients. Most of the R-rated jokes come courtesy of Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s Lydia, one of Betsy’s college friends, while Wilson chips in a few cheeky one-liners that feel like her own improvisations. Unfortunately, almost none of it lands. The humour is painfully flat and the slapstick gags feel forced and juvenile.

It’s clear the project was designed as a vehicle for Wilson, possibly to showcase her post-weight-loss transformation and move beyond her “Fat Amy” persona from Pitch Perfect. But what made her so memorable in that franchise — her fearless comedic timing and effortless charm is missing here. As Sam Doolan, she looks uncomfortable, out of sync, and utterly disengaged. Where Melissa McCarthy turned a similar spy spoof into comic gold with Spy, Wilson struggles under the weight of a lifeless script and limp direction.

Veteran British director Simon West (Con Air, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider) helms Bride Hard, though his recent track record hasn’t been stellar. While the film offers its share of explosions and gunfire, most of it looks cheap and unconvincing, hampered by poor CGI and uninspired staging. And yes using a chocolate fountain as cover during a firefight is exactly as ridiculous as it sounds.

In hindsight, Wilson and Camp might be better off reuniting with Anna Kendrick and Hailee Steinfeld for another Pitch Perfect entry rather than wading through poorly conceived action comedies like this. A secret agent infiltrating a wedding under siege by mercenaries could have been fun — with sharp writing, better direction, and the right tone. Instead, Bride Hard is a misfire that’s neither funny nor thrilling.

Movie Rating:

(Neither humorous nor action-packed, Bride Hard is one wedding invitation you’ll want to decline)

Review by Linus Tee