Pure Fun, Excellent Entertainment, Albeit A Bit Rude

Rating: 7/10 (19 August 2007)

Bridger Jones is a clear phenomenon, nobody can deny the fact. What Helen Fielding managed to achieve with her book is enormous. Here, both in the novel and the film, we see the heroine who is far, far from perfect. She, in words of Mr. Darcy, smokes like a chimney, drinks lake a fish and dresses like her Mom. Bridge is not ideal, she is a woman on a fatter side, prone to fall a victim of all her weaknesses and her friends. The film manages to catch this. Renee Zellweger is a great choice for the main part, albeit being a Texan, she overcame the initial difficulties and here she is a real Londoner, with an unmistakable British accent, British ideas and customs. The other great winner is Colin Firth who depicted Mr. Darcy with his cool, reserved, down to earth manner. Colin is hilariously reserved and his near smiles are unforgettable. Hugh Grant is yet another perfect choice for the part of Daniel Cleever, a classic cad, sweet and deadly nice outside and terribly rotten inside. Typical cynical British humor shines and sparkles like a tinsel all the way through; unbelievably hilarious situations which Bridget finds herself in make you laugh all 90 minutes of this light, tight, bright and delightful comedy. What made me feel a bit repulsive was a continuous talk about sex, sex, sex. When the topic was repeatedly returned to even by Bridge's Mom, I was nearly shocked. Then, maybe this is a huge cultural gap, but the sheer impudence of some talks also nearly killed me. In my country, Russia, to tell a woman in her face that she is getting old and she absolutely must get a man is a unimaginable rudeness. Here, it is shown as if it is natural and no one seems to correct themselves after such a shocking case of rude behavior. Sometimes, the film gets pathetic, though, especially when it does show the way too prolonged scene of fistfight between Darcy and Cleever. After all, the film doesn't make you think too hard. Well, we all are created imperfect, we smoke, drink, and say foul words, have premarital sex, tell lies, cheat, et cetera. This has to be fought, not somehow celebrated. But it is good to be made fun of. In which, the film got very well.