4. The Speech – Bridesmaids (2011)
Proving that awkwardness and embarrassment isn’t just for teens, Bridesmaids delivers a handful of particularly awkward scenes. However, is there anything more uncomfortable than watching two grown women compete for the friendship of a third? Not that we can think of. (For the purpose of this entry, at least.)
At her friend Lillian’s engagement party, Annie feels threatened by fellow attendee Helen. The pair start a bizarre competition via their speeches, with each attempting to outdo the other with increasingly heartfelt speeches. They pass through touching anecdotes into foreign languages and eventually end up singing “That’s What Friends Are For” at the top of their lungs. It’s weird, and it’s brilliant.
The sheer awkwardness of the scene speaks to Bridesmaids‘ excellent writing and the comedic talents of its stars. Kristen Wiig and Rose Byrne so perfectly convey just how embarrassed they are even as they’re helpless to continue their bizarre competition. It’s one of those movie scenes that’s so monumentally awkward that it’s as unforgettably uncomfortable as it is hilarious.