Kim Kardashian's Netflix Comedy Sparks Bridesmaids Comparison Debate
Netflix's upcoming comedy The Fifth Wheel starring Kim Kardashian has drawn immediate comparisons to Melissa McCarthy's hit Bridesmaids, but are the similarities real or just surface-level?
Netflix's latest comedy announcement has entertainment circles buzzing with debate. The streaming giant's upcoming project, The Fifth Wheel, features reality television personality turned actress Kim Kardashian in the lead role, and critics are already drawing parallels to Melissa McCarthy's acclaimed 2011 comedy Bridesmaids, which earned an Oscar nomination.
Despite the immediate comparisons flooding social media and entertainment blogs, industry insiders argue that the two productions are fundamentally different. While both movies feature ensemble casts and comedic elements, their storylines, structural approaches, and central themes diverge significantly.
Plot Differences Set Films Apart
Paul Feig's Bridesmaids centers on Annie Walker, whose personal life spirals downward after agreeing to serve as her best friend's bridesmaid. The narrative explores themes of friendship, jealousy, and personal growth through wedding-related chaos.
In contrast, The Fifth Wheel takes a different approach entirely. The upcoming Netflix production follows a group of high school friends attempting to reconnect during a Las Vegas weekend getaway. The dynamic shifts dramatically when an outsider - Kardashian's character - unexpectedly joins their reunion trip.
Kardashian herself has acknowledged drawing inspiration from multiple comedy classics. During a recent episode of The Kardashians, she described the project's tone: "It's like Hangover, Bridesmaids, First Wives Club."
Star-Studded Cast and Creative Team
The Fifth Wheel boasts an impressive ensemble featuring comedians Nikki Glaser, Brenda Song, and Fortune Feimster alongside Kardashian. Eva Longoria steps behind the camera as director, while comedy veterans Paula Pell and Janine Brito handle writing duties. Kardashian also serves as producer through her production company.
According to Netflix's official synopsis, the story unfolds as "a group of best friends from high school attempt to reconnect during a weekend jaunt to Vegas. When a hot outsider crashes the weekend, they're forced to face their messy lives, bad decisions, and unraveling friendships."
Kardashian's Decade-Long Acting Strategy
Following her appearances in American Horror Story: Delicate and Hulu's legal drama All's Fair, Kardashian has outlined an ambitious ten-year plan for her acting career. She revealed her strategy during a confessional segment on The Kardashians: "I can do a movie a year. I've got about 10 years where I still look good, so that's all I've got in me, and then I'll take some time off — Every year I want to do something that makes me so uncomfortable that I really have to challenge myself."
The transition from reality television to scripted entertainment has proven both thrilling and nerve-wracking for the entrepreneur. "I'm really nervous about it, because I have to f**king deliver," she admitted, expressing surprise at how quickly opportunities materialized after her horror anthology debut.
Her American Horror Story appearance opened unexpected doors in Hollywood. "I didn't have an agent, and then after American Horror Story, all these different people wanted to meet," she explained. The Fifth Wheel project generated immediate studio interest, with Kardashian noting: "We literally spent a day, we went to all the studios, and everyone called within, like, 20 minutes with offers."