Brilliant Bridget!

Rating: Null/10 (10 September 2002)

I loved this film when I saw it 6 times at the cinema. I loved this film when I ventured into my local video shop and hired it out. I loved this film when I waited anxiously outside Woolies, waiting for it to open so I could run in and be the first to buy it. And oh how I love Mark Darcy...
You probably already know the story - Bridget is a food adoring, chain smoking singleton who is desparate not to die alone and be eaten by alsatians but also is determined not to fall for the wrong guy - certainly no peeping toms, meglamaniacs, commitment phobics or emotional f**kwitts. So who does she fall for? Charming Daniel Cleaver - a bed-hopping rogue who just happens to be her boss. Very naughty Bridget! With the added pressure of trying to stop smoking, start dieting and basically becoming a better person, Bridget Jones is weaving a very tangled web, that is until the beautifully mysterious Mr Darcy enters into her life.....
To be honest I had my doubts about Renee Zellweger cast as much-loved Bridget - why couldn't they just pick a good old English actress, someone like Kate Winslet perhaps....? Well, thats what I thought before but after watching the film several thousand times now, I CANNOT imagine any other woman in the world playing her, Zellweger was fantastic - she managed to be hilarious, heart-warming and totally georgous all at the same time. I usually find that most American actors/actresses when portraying English characters usually opt for one of two extremes - alwful cockney accent similar to that of Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins or completely OTT, Royal family type, well spoken accent similar to that of the Queen, Zellweger managed to get hers spot on without sounding completely ridiculous.
It was great to see Hugh Grant not be type-cast yet again as the mumbling, all round good guy with the giantic floppy fringe, he still had a bit of the fringe but managed to show us he can play the sexy, bad guy too.
And finally, I thought I'd save the best to last, Colin Firth. He was perfect as Mark Darcy, he didn't even have to open his mouth once and he still would've made the film - I know thats probably really shallow and girly-like of me but per-lease, the man looks good in a reindeer jumper for crying out loud. I'm not really a big romantic comedy type fan, but even I was yearning to be in Bridgets shoes in the very last 'coat' scene - for those women who have already seen it, you'll know what scene I'm talking about.....
To sum up, it's funny, heart-warming, very funny and more than just a stupid 'chick-flick' and if you're not going to see it for its suberb script, hilairious jokes, great acting and brilliant soundtrack. Then see it for the fireman pole scene. 10/10