Generally speaking, I try and keep the Top 5 opening paragraph as topical as possible (i.e. films, television, posters, etc.). This week that protocol is easier than ever to follow as I recently got my first chance to check out director Gareth Evans‘ The Raid. Keeping this short and sweet, if you’ve yet to partake in The Raid and have ever derived any joy from watching action fare, martial arts, and the like, then you have a giant favor to do for yourself. Quickly find a way to check out this actioner and try to keep a smile from forming across your face while watching.

Movie recommendations aside, this weekend brings you a recap of all of our 2012 Toronto International Film Festival thus far, the first trailer and poster for Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, video interviews with the cast and director of Bachelorette, the inaugural installment of our Hollywood! Adapt This feature spotlighting Disney’s Gargoyles, and The Words video interviews with Bradley Cooper, co-writer/co-director Brian Klugman, and more. A brief recap and link to each awaits on the other side.

Now playing on VOD and opening in limited release this weekend is writer-director Leslye Headland‘s R rated comedy Bachelorette.  Here’s the official synopsis and trailer:

“On the night before an old friend’s wedding, three bridesmaids go searching for a little fun:  Regan (Kirsten Dunst) an overachieving, über-Maid of Honor who’s secretly smarting over the fact that she’s not the first to marry; Gena (Lizzy Caplan), a whip smart sarcastic who’s actually a closet romantic; and Katie (Isla Fisher), a ditzy beauty who loves the good life.  Though the bride to be (Rebel Wilson) insists on keeping the bachelorette party tame, the women proceed with an after-hours celebration of their own.  Bachelorette also stars Adam Scott, James Marsden and Kyle Bornheimer.”

During the recent Los Angeles press day, I got to speak with Rebel Wilson and Leslye Headland.  We talked about how the film premiered on iTunes and the evolving distribution model, whether the script changed during production, and I got updates on the About Last Night remake and Michael Bay‘s Pain and Gain (Wilson plays a supporting character).  Hit the jump to watch.

We’re happy to host an exclusive clip from debut director Leslye Headland’s Bachelorette as part of the virtual tour in anticipation of the film’s release.  While the footage we’ve seen so far highlights the film’s raunchy humor, this clip touches on a somewhat dramatic moment between Kirsten Dunst and James Marsden.  

Bachelorette, also starring Lizzy Caplan, Isla Fisher, Rebel Wilson, Adam Scott and Kyle Bornheimer hits theaters September 7th.  Hit the jump to check out the exclusive video along with the red-band and green-band trailers.

The first trailer and poster for the comedy Bachelorette have landed online.  The film centers on four high school friends who reunite when the least popular of the group gets engaged to one of the most eligible bachelors in New York City.  It’s impossible not to draw comparisons to Bridesmaids based on this trailer, but the promising cast—including a much welcomed Party Down reunion between Lizzy Caplan and Adam Scott—provides quite a few laughs throughout.  Kirsten Dunst looks to be the centerpiece, but it’s Rebel Wilson who once again steals scenes left and right.  Matt caught the film earlier this year at Sundance and praised the candidly despicable portrayal of the main characters (you can read his review here).

Hit the jump to watch the trailer and check out the poster.  Written and directed by Leslye Headland, the film also stars Isla Fisher and James Marsden.  Bachelorette will be available on iTunes on August 10th and hits theaters on September 7th.

Not all girls are sugar and spice everything nice.  Some are bitter and mean and sometimes that behavior can be downright hilarious.  For its first two-thirds, Bachelorette is unapologetic in how ugly, filthy, dark, and angry it’s willing to be for the sake of a laugh.  The three main characters are sad and despicable, and writer-director Leslye Headland has no reservations about trying to justify her characters behavior until the last act.  Then the movie falls into a sappy place where the humor drains away and we’re asked to root characters who were hilarious but completely beyond redemption.

A quartet of actors are set to star in a new indie comedy being produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. Kirsten Dunst, Adam Scott, Lizzy Caplan and Casey Wilson are all attached to star in a comedy written and directed by Leslye Headland (TV’s Terriers) that has the working title of Bachelorette (which is most likely going to change). The story centers on three best friends who are asked to be the bridesmaids of a woman they called “Pigface” in high school. THR reports that Dunst and Caplan will play two of the best friends, with Wilson taking on the role of the bride-to-be. The character breakdown describes Dunst’s character as “your best friend and your worst enemy,” whereas Caplan’s role is characterized as “having a Playboy bunny body with a Larry David brain.”

This marks a reunion of sorts for Caplan and Scott, who both starred in Starz’s fantastic comedy Party Down. Scott is set to play Caplan’s high school crush, who “shows up to the wedding with a beautiful and much younger date.” The project was previously an off-Broadway play that caught the attention of McKay, who decided to set it up as a film at his and Ferrell’s Gary Sanchez production company. The budget is set at around $3 million with filming hoping to get underway this summer in New York. Scott is currently killing each week on NBC’s Parks and Recreation, and Casey Wilson is starring on ABC’s Happy Endings.