This "Diary" is Worth a Look See

Rating: Null/10 (15 April 2001)

There is something about England-based romantic comedies that have a sense of neverending charm and sophistication to them. Their stars tend to be nothing less than perfect and their words are those we wish we could say. The creators of `Bridget Jones' Diary' have filled their film with the above criteria, taking a `Notting Hill' esque approach to singles and dating in the 21st Century.

The Plot: Renee Zellweger plays Bridget, a publisher's assistant who arrives at her 32nd birthday determined to reel in her life, which has spiraled into excessive drinking, smoking, eating, and dating the wrong kinds of men with the best of intentions. A running gag in the film begins as she monitors her daily intake of vodka, menthols, and crumpets. Her self induced makeover hits a bump when her mother introduces her to your typical stiff-assed, handsome Brit and divorcee, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth).
Darcy's rude comments about Bridget at a Christmas party prompt our heroine to pursue her boss, Daniel (a rascally cad portrayed by Hugh Grant). Daniel ends up having a tryst with a Yankee Bridget describes as `an American stick insect,' thus ruining their relationship and forcing Bridget to re-examine her love life while facing her `mum's' mid-life crisis.

The Good: `Diary' has too much going for it to fit in this section. The dialogue comes at a quick pace, sharply delivered and always funny. Zellweger goes back to `Jerry MaGuire' territory, gaining 20 pounds and constantly reminding us how perfectly cast and effortlessly adorable she is in the sappy Snow White-like role of Bridget. Grant shows a nasty side that makes us snicker and Firth is a revelation. Scenes of note are the `Prostitutes and Priests' costume party, any scene with Grant and Zellweger, and the finale's birthday dinner scene.

The Bad: Why must all Hugh Grant comedies end with a pointless car chase, whose aim is to get to one's love before they go away? This tacky scene, and the oddly placed and flow of a street brawl between Daniel and Collin, are too American for this import. They distract, rather than entertain. But a movie this close to perfection has to have some spoils here and there.
Some pages can be skipped and it can use touches of WhiteOut, but overall, this `Diary' is worth a look see.