The buddy movie has typically been ruled by the boys but over the years, women have also proven to be masters at the genre, particularly following the success of Thelma & Louise. There’s something very sweet about seeing female buddies on the big screen - and when comedy is involved too, it’s all the more enjoyable.
Coming into cinemas this week for instance is Snatched, starring dynamic duo Amy Schumer - one of America’s biggest comedians - and the iconic Goldie Hawn. They star respectively as buddies (who also happen to be daughter and mum) Emily and Linda Middleton, whose trip abroad goes horribly wrong.
To celebrate its release, we’ve picked five of our favourite funny female buddies from the movies:
5. Clueless
When she’s not busy sorting out the mess that is her love life, Cher (Alicia Silverstone) loves nothing more than hanging out with her best friend Dionne (Stacey Dash) and new mate Tai (Brittany Murphy). Their chats about school life, boys and (so very 90s) fashion were a holler, while Dionne’s relentless teasing of their foe Amber (Elisa Donovan) was exemplary. Plus Cher and Dionne give Tai one of the movies’ most memorable makeovers – because what are buddies for?
4. Muriel’s Wedding
While Muriel’s Wedding, featuring Toni Colette’s breakout role, certainly has its sad moments, the friendship at the heart of the film between Muriel (Colette) and Rhonda (Rachel Griffiths) brings joy, laughter and touching moments. Highlights of the movie include the pair’s rendition of ABBA’s Waterloo, a night at a club that leads to a hilarious attempt at foreplay, and driving away from the b****es who tormented them towards an uncertain but hopeful future together.
3. Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion
No one knows how to be a Friend like Lisa Kudrow (geddit?), who stars opposite Mira Sorvino in this cult classic. When the sweetly naïve besties learn of their ten-year high school reunion, they become desperate to impress the former popular kids, known as the "A-Group", of their class. Almost torn apart, they eventually realise they don’t need to be anyone but themselves to impress – definite feel-good stuff.
2. Mean Girls
Ah Mean Girls, the endlessly quotable teen comedy that few others have been as relatable or funny. Lindsay Lohan plays Cady, a teenage girl who has lived in Africa all her life but is now starting high school in America. She is drawn into the world of the Plastics, which comprise Regina George (Rachel McAdams), Gretchen Wieners (Lacey Chabert) and Karen (Amanda Seyfried) but doesn’t know if these girls are really her friends or her enemies. Its idealistic ending sees the clique system in the school break down as all the girls learn to get on with one another.
1. Bridesmaids
There have been attempts to redo the formula (*cough*Bachelorette*cough*) and to reunite the cast for another all-female outing (poor Ghostbusters never had a chance…) but you just can’t beat the original. Bridesmaids took everyone by surprise with its hilarious performances in Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, and Ellie Kemper, who play bridesmaids to Maya Rudolph’s character. Its hilarity was aided by the fact that the film wasn’t afraid to let the girls be dirty and appalling – plus Hold On was the ultimate female buddy song for the finale.