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Bright Jones's Diary

Starring: Renee Zellweger
Director: Sharon Maguire
Genre: Comedy
Year: 2001
Rating: 4 / 5

If the media is to be believed, all of England was in an uproar when American Renee Zellweger was cast to play the lead role in the movie adaptation of Bridget Jones's Diary. Despite having two European heartthrobs - Colin Firth and Hugh Grant - by her side, Zellweger was not given much of a chance to succeed in the role. Even the novel's author, Helen Fielding, was initially skeptical of the casting. Having finally seen Bridget Jones's Diary, allow me to allay all fears - Renee Zellweger is hilarious. Her British accent is more than acceptable, and she seems to genuinely immerse herself in the role of the stereotypical thirty-something singleton.

Bridget Jones (Renee Zellweger) is a microcosm of today's single woman: she is struggling to find a career path that suits her, she cannot help but be attracted to the worst sort of men, and her friends and relatives pester her incessantly about her dating status. Determined to make some changes in her life, Bridget vows to quit smoking, lose some weight, and date only nice, sensible men. Enter Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), Bridget's boss and everything she is hoping to avoid. Sure enough, Bridget tosses her high-minded theories aside and begins an ill-fated relationship with the charming rascal.

While Bridget is enjoying her new relationship with a successful, intelligent man, she keeps crossing paths with Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), a man her parents had been pushing on her for months. Mark comes across as excessively shy, and he never seems quite quick enough to save Bridget from any number of embarrassing situations. It seems that he also has a past with the esteemed Mr. Cleaver, stemming from an earlier marriage and an adulterous tryst. As Bridget comes to question her true dreams, she begins to realize that, unlike Daniel, Mark actually accepts her just as she is. Will this be enough to bring two would-be lovers together?

Much of the buzz surrounding Bridget Jones's Diary focused on Renee Zellweger, but Colin Firth and Hugh Grant are the true stars of the film. After years of playing the lovable "good guy" on film, Grant gets a chance to really let loose. His Daniel Cleaver is an unrepentant womanizer, always certain that his good looks and charm will allow him to talk his way out of any jam. It is a relief to see him ham it up in a role that requires more than a smile and some goofy expressions. Firth plays the rather understated "nice guy" who just happens to know what is important in life. While his true personality is not fully flushed out until the end, he is easy to cheer for and humorous to boot. Bridget Jones's Diary may be the definitive work for thirty-something women, but it also makes for an incredibly enjoyable film.

Cast:

Certification: Rated R for language.
Running Time: 98 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
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