Don’t worry, Bridesmaids. You’re still number one on the comedy hit parade for movies about pre-wedding hijinks. In fact, the latest genre offering, Bachelorette, turns out to be a silly rip-off that tries to capitalize on your box-office success. Following the misadventures of three friends invited to the wedding of a woman they made fun of in high school, this disappointing film fails to include any characters we care about. And there’s not one line or scene that made me laugh. Reaching about as low as possible for humor, Bachelorette evokes “yuck” responses instead. How I wish I’d spent my time watching you again on DVD!

Much as I hate to complain about Kirsten Dunst -- a fine actress -- her performance in Bachelorette left me thinking she was the victim of a body snatcher while filming this dud. Every frenetic move and facial grimace seems forced here. Is this the same person who wowed us in such movies as Drop Dead Gorgeous, Melancholia and The Cat’s Meow? That’s very hard to believe! Isla Fischer, so amusing and delightful in Definitely Maybe, fares no better. She’s reduced to playing a bumbling idiot in scenes too mindless to be funny. And then there’s Lizzy Kaplan (Hot Tub Time Machine), whose character says some of the most foul-mouthed dialogue of the year. Still, although Dunst and Fischer seem like caricatures, Kaplan deserves credit for coming across as a real person even when delivering those unbelievable lines.       

Regan (Dunst), supposedly the smartest member of this dopey trio, attempts to ride herd on her friends Katie (Fisher) and Gena (Kaplan) as they participate in the pre-wedding festivities of Becky (Rebel Wilson). All four attended the same high school. Becky, however, was treated badly – even called “Pigface” – by other students, including our not-so-nice leading ladies (behind her back, of course). These mean-spirited friends can’t help feeling jealous about Becky being the first to catch a husband, and a handsome one indeed. The plot centers around their frantic efforts to repair the bride’s wedding dress before the ceremony after they do something stupid with it. Subplots involve a renewed relationship for Gena, a new one for Katie and lots of bickering between Regan and a guy called Trevor (the usually quite watchable James Marsden). But none of this makes much sense.     

Amusing movies about weddings abound. Sadly, Bachelorette isn’t one of them. In addition to Bridesmaids, I recommend checking out My Big Fat Greek Wedding, 27 Dresses, Mamma Mia! and -- suprisingly -- Corpse Bride. 

(Released by The Weinstein Company and rated “R” for sexual content, pervasive language and drug use.)

For more information about Bachelorette, go to the Internet Movie Data Base or Rotten Tomatoes website.