Ironic?

Rating: 6/10 (31 July 2002)

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS.
Why is it that in `women's films' women appear particularly unable to survive without a man on their side? But I don't want to write a contribution to the battle of the sexes. I want to comment on this movie.
I had a good laugh, I have to admit. Maybe I would have enjoyed myaself more, if there hadn't been two girls sitting beside me, close to a nervous breakdown each time Hugh Grant appeared on the screen. The most stunning effort is of course Renee Zellweger's courage to completely destroy her outward appearance and look like the `average woman' instead of a sexy super-model (I suppose, that was the idea). Hugh Grant, like him or not, has great fun in the part of the macho guy. And Colin Firth does a good job as a phlegmatic cynic, though I am not sure whether I wanted Bridget to decide for him rather than for Hugh Grant.
The problem of the film is that while it is some kind of ironic response to romantic comedies, it turns out to be nothing else after some time. The ending is terrribly happy and conventional. But if you rent the film, don't turn off during the end credits! You would miss the very best joke of the whole film (`My name is Ellen.')!