hilarious, delightful, absurd and wonderful!

Rating: Null/10 (3 June 2001)

I have been looking forward to seeing this movie, since I have read Helen Fielding's The Edge of Reason and found it enormously funny. And this movie has not disappointed me. It is one of the best comedies I have ever seen, despite its super absurdity of plot. But this absurdity is one of the most appealing part of this film. Who wants to sit in a cinema paying five bucks just to see a "truthful" but maybe "dull" portrait of a 30-sth singleton's boring life? For a movie goer, this movie has the hilarious plots, the creative lines, and a bunch of brilliant actors and actresses. I am serious thinking about seeing it again and even buying the two books! My favorite scenes are:

When Bridget heard Mark Darcy's comments about her spinsterhood to his mother and she squeezed out that bitter smile: I felt so sorry for her. This kind of prejudice against "older" singletons are truly hurtful.

When Bridget sang in her pajama "All By Myself": I nearly cried. I can't believe I can relate so much to this scene. Personally I'd rather work out to death in the gym than singing karaoke in my apartment if I were her, but I can feel her pain.

When Briget spitted to Daniel by saying "I'd rather *** than ***" when she decided to leave the publishing house for a new job. I had such a good laugh. It's perfect vengeance to a sleazy guy like him. And the expressions on the onlookers' face are also funny. Again only BJ will say such words but that's what makes her so unique and lovable!

When the "one and only" Mark Darcey said "...like you as you are". Wow!That's the sweetest line any woman wants to hear, esp. for someone like BJ, who keeps bumping into social blunders and thinks she is an idiot most of the time.

When Darcey helped her out of embarrassment at the dinner table when the smug-married couples are waiting to see her humiliated. This is so sweeeeet!!

When Bridget blurted out on the last gathering (like saying "I object" at the wedding) and then changed her mind and said sth else, I half laughed and half felt sad. But the expression on Darcey's face is almost "smug" :-)

When Bridget ran out in those funny clothes after Darcey and it turned out that he just wanted to buy her another diary. This is truly unexpected, and heartening.

They are many more subtle scenes and good laugh triggers throughout the film. It's refreshing to see the British style of humor well meshed with the American mastery of comedy making. It's not an ordinary comedy but a WONDERFUL one. I guess I really begin to like British kind of humor now, after Notting Hill and BJD. I wonder when the sequel can be made. That one is good too. BTW, I don't like Hugh Grant but I must say he is a very good actor, no matter an innocent, awkward bookstore guy or a scoundrel that combines all the bad things BJ resolved NOT to have. Colin Firth is very British, but downright charming. He is the modern version of Mr. Darcey. The music is GREAT! The songs and the drum of the fighting scene are so artfully arranged!
Conclusion: STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.