Excellent and hilarious, with Renee Zellweger at her best

Rating: 10/10 (20 July 2001)

Bridget Jones would not be as good were it not for the great Renee Zellweger. I am not dismissing the film (I liked it a lot), only saying that Renee's wonderful performance is absolutely the best. Her expressions are priceless. As a matter of fact I 'discovered' her in Nurse Betty (Another masterpiece), where she shone as well, and here she hasn't let her standards slip. Excellent job Renee!
Warning! - Little spoilers.
Aside from Renee's awesome performance, Bridget Jones' Diary harks back to the typical (And sadly not too frequent) English humour, also featured in movies like Four Weddings And A Funeral, unfairly overlooked by the way. Here Hugh Grant plays a selfish jerk who is Bridget's boss and also her lover, until she can take no more abuse from him and dumps him on the spot. Colin Flirt (Hadn't heard of him before) is a sullen and grim ex neighbour from Renee's childhood who will eventually get her love.
The film is full of comic situations and wacky and hysterical lines. Probably the funniest scene is that of Renee's butt descending by firemen's pole broadcast live on the news.
What I did not get is why British press reacted negatively when Renee Zellweger was chosen to play Bridget Jones. As far as I am concerned there's not any other actress who can beat her now. How they could ever think the fact of being from the US would prevent her from playing a good role? If they have seen the film I hope they have realised how wrong they were.
To sum up, an extraordinary, funny and intelligent movie. If Hollywood ignores this movie and doesn't nominate it for next year's Awards the little credibility they still have will fade away, not to go back. Let them try so they can show us how blind and narrow-minded they are.
Ten out of ten for this movie.