A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |

Bridget Jones's Diary

Movie: A

Sound: A

Picture: A

Reviewed By: David

Miramax Films and director Sharon Maguire team up to bring you Bridget Jones's Diary.

"An extremely entertaining movie."
-- Lawrence Toppman, CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

Bridget Jones's Diary is well quite simply one of the finest motion pictures released by Miramax Films. Based on the novel by Helen Fielding the screenplay for Bridget Jones's Diary successfully adapts the book into an easily watchable 90 minute movie. Bridget Jones's Diary is smart, sassy and very enjoyable.

The film tells the story of a year in the life of an average, single, thirty something British woman who armed with only her wits and charm and of course a diary goes in search of the ever elusive Mr. Right. In love Bridget which is played by (Renee Zellweger) has two candidates the fun and sexy Daniel Cleaver which is played by (Hugh Grant) and Mark Darcy which is played by (Colin Firth) whom she overhears calling her a verbally incontinent spinster when they first meet at a party. Not to surprisingly she goes for Daniel but he turns out to be a less than perfect catch. Then just when her interest in Mark is about to begin to emerge he hooks up with a man eating lawyer Natasha which is played by (Embeth Davidtz) who is determined to marry him. Meanwhile her parents marriage is on the rocks and she embarks upon a career in television news. This would be the line that got her the position "I got fired from my last job for sleeping with my boss." Geezzz!

Even Hugh Grant, who plays her low-down dirty dog of a boss Daniel Cleaver, finally hits his pitch and is wicked and charming in all the right places. The humorless Firth however is another matter. Meant to be rather stiff, he comes off as unlovable and never makes a case for why Bridget would genuinely be interested in him.

Fortunately though Bridget Jones elicits a frequent giggle as it sets up jokes and invariably pays them off relying on Zellweger to deliver a bravely out-there comedic performance the talent for which she must have picked up during her time as Jim Carrey's main squeeze. She shows up as the only one in a hooker costume at a tarts and vicars party. She runs through a snowstorm in leopard-print panties. Cool. Zellweger isn't afraid to show us her expanded skin and she deserves credit for it.

But Bridget Jones is no Annie Hall. She is an archetype for modern singles, sure but her predicament is somewhat inaccessible while it strives to be universal. Her goofy antics are a hilarious slap, and I figure that's all the producers ever intended.

Bridget Jones's Diary isn't the best book-to-film that I have ever seen but it does a pretty good job of staying true to it's source. Director Sharon Maguire having the courage to take on the task of adapting a book to film that millions of people have read and enjoyed does the best she can to keep things very fresh and clever.

I recommend renting this movie before you buy it and if you like it, go get it or you can also click here to purchase the movie.

Edition Details:

• Region 1 encoding (US and Canada only)
• Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen