Funny

Rating: 7/10 (12 June 2004)

I adore Jane Austen. The woman could have been a Behaviorist, so far was she ahead of her time. Add to that her keen insight, sharp and witty tongue, and impeccable prose style, and we undoubtedly have one of the top 5 or so authors of the 19th century. While I agree that Bridget Jones's Diary could not possibly compete with Miss Austen, though based on themes and characters from several of her works, I have to say I found it extremely entertaining in it's own right.
Renee Zellweger is a talented comic actress, and anyone who can play a difficult comedic role with such skill and finesse cannot possibly be as clumsy and inept a person as the character she is depicting, however limited she might appear to some. She made me laugh and call out to my roommate to "Come and watch this girl; she's a scream!", something I am not in the habit of doing on a regular basis.
Hugh Grant was equally funny, and a wonderful foil for Colin Firth's character. Bridget's family was hideously but hilariously portrayed. I am normally not an admirer of the getting-older-woman-looking-for-a-husband-before-it's-too-late genre of films, but this was really less tired and superficial than some of these have turned out in the past. The whole film seemed to me to be particularly well done- I enjoyed it, and I recommend it.