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Bridget Jones's Diary [2001]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Featuring a blowzy, winningly inept size-12 heroine, Bridget Jones's Diary is a fetching adaptation of Helen Fielding's runaway bestseller, grittier than Ally McBeal but sweeter than Sex and the City. The normally sylphlike Renée Zellweger (Nurse Betty, Me, Myself and Irene) wolfed pasta to gain poundage to play "singleton" Bridget, a London-based publicist who divides her free time between binge eating in front of the TV, downing Chardonnay with her friends, and updating the diary in which she records her negligible weight fluctuations and romantic misadventures of the year. Things start off badly at Christmas when her mother tries to set her up with seemingly standoffish lawyer Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), whom Bridget accidentally overhears dissing her. Instead she embarks on a disastrous liaison with her raffish boss, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant, infinitely more likeable when he's playing a baddie instead of his patented tongue-tied fops). Eventually, Bridget comes to wonder if she's let her pride prejudice her against the surprisingly attractive Mr. Darcy.

If the plot sounds familiar, that's because Fielding's novel was itself a retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, whose romantic male lead is also named Mr. Darcy. An extra ironic poke in the ribs is added by the casting of Firth, who played Austen's haughty hero in the acclaimed BBC adaptation of Austen's novel. First-time director Sharon Maguire directs with confident comic zest, while Zellweger twinkles charmingly, fearlessly baring her cellulite and pulling off a spot-on English accent. Like Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill (both of which were written by this film's coscreenwriter, Richard Curtis), Bridget Jones's stock-in-trade is a very English self-deprecating sense of humour, a mild suspicion of Americans (especially if they're thin and successful), and a subtly expressed analysis of thirtysomething fears about growing up and becoming a "smug married." The whole is, as Bridget would say, v. good. --Leslie Felperin


A modern spin on Pride and Predjudice
Review date: 2008-07-08 Rating: 10 out of 10

The story of Bridget Jones first began as a diary collumn in a newspaper, rose to success in book form (then it's sequel) and then finally hit the movies in 2001 with Briget played quite perfectly by the lovely Renee Zellwegger.

This modern take on Pride and Predjudice follows the female protagonist Briget Jones who decides to keep a diary of her life; unlike the Mary-Jane all too perfect characters in most stories and movies of today, Bridget is quite literally EVERY woman you've ever known.

Bridget is a 30-something urban singleton on the look for love - perhaps in the wrong places. She's an ever so slightly overweight (Zellwegger put on weight specifically for the movie) office worker who reads self-help books religiously, and fantasizes about mini-breaks with the perfect man. She counts alcholic units and cigarettes, and weighs herself every day. Despite her intelligence she often says the wrong thing and makes a fool of herself, but does so in a very dignified and honest way that makes her character so loveable.

Her mother is no help and tries to set her up with a snobby human-rights Lawyer by the name of Mark Darcy, however all goes awry with this as Bridget accidentally sabbotages the relationship before it even starts off.

All is not lost though, as Bridget somehow manages to get the attention of her womanizing rogue of a boss, Daniel Cleaver (with a very short skirt and perhaps a little help from scary granny stomach-holding-in-knickers). And while that seems to be going well, things turn bad very quickly when her mother and father's relationship hits the rocks and her mother runs off with a fake-tanned shopping channel presenter by the name of Julian. While Bridget tries to convince herself what she has with Daniel Cleaver is love, Mark Darcy (who she runs into at various points) tries to politely convince her otherwise and doing so most inadequately.

Full of surprising twists, some very funny scenes that will leave you giggling your head off.

This is the one film that every woman will be able to relate to, young or old. Even Men will enjoy this one as it's a true glimpse into the female psyche (the one we all try to hide).

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Reviews


BridgetMustHave
Review date: 2008-02-23 Rating: 10 out of 10

This film is so amazing and funny. I love it. I think it is fantastic and is definatly a good buy.

Fantastic, hilarious film to watch over and over again!
Review date: 2007-09-30 Rating: 10 out of 10

One of my favourite ever films, that you can watch over and over again. Bridget (Renee Zellweger) is halarious , and the supporting cast are also fantastic.

Bridget at first swoons over the gorgeous, charming, but extremely mischevious Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant). Although she thinks he's perfect, before long he's cheated on her with an 'American stick insect'.

After a lot of hate and arguments she finally falls for Mr. Perfect Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) who is a loving, gentlemen like character that 'likes her just as she is'.

The film is fantasic and will give you plenty of laughs from start to finish whilst also getting to look at the gorgeous Hugh Grant and Colin Firth. A must see film for every girl out there - with of course a fairy tale ending! Ahh

Self indulgent rubbish
Review date: 2007-09-10 Rating: 2 out of 10

Proved how to get women in their droves to the cinema (I went with four of them and there were hundreds more there) is to give them a film about themselves. Pure undiluted self indulgence. I knew women were besotted with themselves before this, but I honestly didn't know quite how much they were! Can't tell you how close to the book it was, as this put me off going there, but it's possibly illegal for men to read anyway. Really, this was pretty obvious, unsubtle and supremely self indulgent stuff. Very poor.

Yes Bridget is the one with the trademark knickers
Review date: 2007-05-05 Rating: 10 out of 10

Also Bridget Jones is a 32-year-old, single, working woman, who has decided to trade some of her independence for a romantic relationship. She's thinking marriage. Her difficulties arise from the fact that, while she's charming, attractive, spontaneous, trusting, and perfectly sincere, she's not terribly bright.
As she enters this new stage of her life, she begins to journal about it. Ms. Jones narrates the film in the third person, as if audibly writing in her diary, a great way to get inside the personal struggles of the heroine.

Basically, in the course of her personal quest for a relationship, she's confronted with a choice between `intensity' and `intimacy,' the one offering danger and excitement, the other safety and excitement. They look alike, but they're not. The first type of relationship is your typical `cosmic' romance, in which some poor dumb idiot is always looking for a `soul mate,' who is always disappointed that nobody is perfect enough. This person is usually codependent. The second type of relationship, while less dangerous (it's a peculiarity of the human psyche that people are more sexually attractive to us when we associate them with danger), offers warmth, acceptance, mutual individuation, and self-expression. It's the joy of intimacy based upon clear-eyed acceptance of each other's strengths and faults.

There's a great scene in the video, where Bridget throws a dinner party for her friends. She's a horrible cook, and the meal is, by all accounts, hard to swallow. In a jocular mood, her friends argue over which of several courses was the worst. But it's not malicious. It's the kind of jesting that is totally affirming, that fully accepts Ms. Jones in spite of, and maybe also because of, her shortcomings. Now that's intimacy.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Embeth Davidtz
Honor Blackman
Renee Zellweger
Colin Firth
Hugh Grant

Creators:
Renee Zellweger (Primary Contributor)
Honor Blackman (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Universal Pictures UK
Manufacturer: Universal Pictures UK
EAN: 5050582324105
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2004-12-20
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 93 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2001
Language: English (Original Language)

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