For anyone who has ever been set up, stood up or felt up

Rating: Null/10 (27 December 2001)

Hearing about a film coming out of England called `Bridget Jones's Diary', a book coming to the big screen, I was not so sure what to expect. Yet by the time I finished viewing it, I was glad for the experience. Bridget Jones is a character that a woman or a man can relate to, as she is down on her luck in many things in life, but proves that if you give yourself a chance and wait your turn, things will work out ok.
32 year old Bridget smokes too much, drinks too much and has a tendency too say whatever is on her mind. As a new year's resolution she decides it's time to take control of her life  and starts keeping a diary. Now the most provocative, erotic and hysterical book on her bedside table is the one she's writing. With a taste for adventure and an opinion on every subject  from exercise to men to food to sex and everything in between  she's turning the page on a whole new life.
The cast of this film were fantastic. Undoubtedly Renee Zellweger deserves a big pat on the back for her role, which was not only funny, but also loveable. Hearing about all the lengths she went to fit the part is also another reason that this role will for me, be unforgettable. She had to endure days of eating pizzas and chocolate bars, anything you can imagine to gain weight for the role of Bridget, which is quite amazing.

Also impressive in their roles in this film were the males stars, which include English heart-throb Hugh Grant. He was great as Bridget's boss and boyfriend, Daniel Cleaver, the one character that you think you can trust, then in one foul swoop, turns out to be the scum bag of the movie. His role is not much different from the one he had in Notting Hill which was a great, though in this film he is character has a lot more ego than the one he had in Notting Hill. Then you have the good guy in the whole film, the character of Mark Darcy, played by Colin Firth, who was great. You are never totally sure what to think of Mark in this one. His facial expression throughout the whole film is so plain, that he could be the bad guy or the good guy, for all you know?
This film was extremely clever' how it goes into the mind of Bridget Jones, via the audience hearing all the sarcastic comments that she has to say. Comments about `Uncle Geoffrey', who was not her real uncle, Publisher Mr Fitzherbert, who was affectionately known to Bridget as `Mr Titspervert', with Bridget's book launch speech hilarious. Whoever decided to put this side in the movie got it right, as it allows the audience to see what Bridget is thinking about.
There is one great soundtrack to this film. With performers which include Geri Halliwell, with the bopping hit `It's raining men', Gabrielle with `Out of reach' Shellby Lynne and Robbie Williams. In addition there are some timeless classic hits include `All by myself', which Bridget performs drunk and depressed, `Respect', `Don't get me wrong' and `Ain't no mountain high enough'.
So overall, Bridget Jones's Diary is a film that anyone could sit and watch and take something away from it. Whether it is just a laugh or some advice for real life, the message should come through somehow. There are many funny scenes attached to this movie that I will never forget, such as Bridget dressed as a Bunny Rabbit, going to her relatives party and having two men fighting over her in the streets of London. So if you want a laugh, take the time to meet Bridget Jones.
By the way a warning: reading Bridget's diary might be a little dangerous and adopting her lifestyle could damage your health!
Rating: 4.5 stars or 9/10