In Bridesmaids, Annie’s (Kristen Wiig) best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) is getting married and Annie is overwhelmed by emotions — happiness for her friend, panic at her own lack of a life partner, frustration at the people around her — that threaten to derail her entire life. Not that her life was ever on track for anything.

She has a man for sex (John Hamm) but he is crystal clear he wants nothing more. He’s so ephemeral, in fact, he’s not even listed in the movie’s credits. She meets a policeman, Officer Rhodes (Chris O’Dowd), but theirs is a rocky relationship. Her girlfriends and the friends thrust upon her because she’s maid of honor and they’re bridesmaids — Helen (Rose Byrne), Rita (Wendi McLendon-Covey), Becca (Ellie Kemper) and sister-of-the-groom Megan (the outstanding Melissa McCarthy). Of course, this is a comedy, so nothing Annie does is right and complications galore ensue.

Jill Clayburgh is Annie’s mother. This was her last role and it serves as a reminder of what we’ve lost.

The only wrong note in the movie is hit by Paul O’Dowd as Officer Rhodes. Meeting him, Annie asks why he has a foreign (Irish) accent. His response makes no sense and, in this day of actors from other countries capably employing American accents when called for — Hugh Laurie, Alfred Molina, Anthony Hopkins come to mind — O’Dowd’s Irish accent is jarring.

The script was co-written by Wiig and Annie Mumolo and it is one funny story. Wiig seems destined to take her place beside the screen’s best comediennes. For proof, just see Bridesmaids and Paul, the space alien film released in March.

Producer Judd Apatow is well-known for this kind of raunchy comedy and Bridesmaids adds luster to that reputation. Director Paul Feig, a comic actor and TV director, understands his characters. He lets us see them for what they are — real women caught up in a moment in real life. His film is like a real wedding in that it’s funny, serious, kind of nauseating but, whatever it is at a given moment, it will move forward.

The setting of Bridesmaids may be a wedding, bit this is a film about something more important. It is about friendship — about how friendship is so important. It is also not a chick flick or a female version of The Hangover. It’s been promoted as one of the year’s best comedies and, indeed, it is. See it.