Brilliant!

Rating: Null/10 (19 June 2002)

Although many people might not realise it, "Bridget Jones' Diary" is actually based on "Pride and Prejudice." The similarities between the characters are eerie and even the famous line "It it a truth universally acknowledged that..." is used.
Renee Zellweger does an excellent job as portraying the insecure and lonely Bridget Jones, who after spending a New Years eve, alone and drunk "with her head in a toilet", decides to start a diary which contains her hopes in life. The diary is created with the intention of keeping her inline with her wants in life. To lost weight, drink less, smoke less and not get involved with men that aren't good for her. Ofcourse Daniel Cleaver, Bridget's boss, embodies all these elements. Ofcourse previous to that, her mother introduces her to an old friend, Mark Darcy played by Colin Firth. It is no coincidence that he was cast in this role as he played Mr. Darcy in the BBC's miniseries "Pride and Prejudice". As fate would have it, Darcy and Cleaver have a history together, however it is best to watch the film, as not to give away Bridget's reason for hating Darcy.
Bridget embodies women's insecurities about weight and body image, lonliness and finding someone to love you exactly "as you are." She isn't the perfect woman with a great career, family and body. She's chubby, slept with her boss and must find a new job, clumsy as hell, can't cook and has embarassments (especially with a firepole). But overall, she's a lot of laughs and has the great humor of all; can laugh at herself.
Bridget Jones' Diary is a great and realistic movie and I can't wait until the sequal comes out.