I haven't read the books, but...

Rating: Null/10 (16 April 2001)

I think this movie could have been better. While I loved Grant's portrayal of Daniel as well as Firth's perfectly understated portrayal of Mark Darcy, I couldn't help but think that Zellweger wasn't the best choice for Bridget. Weight gain or not, she's hardly the average-looking woman that I assume Bridget is in the books. The idea that someone this cute would have trouble meeting a companion wasn't particularly convincing.
On top of that, Zellweger's Bridget seemed downright happy-go-lucky, not weighed down by her situation. There was very little bitterness, if any, on display, and Zellweger didn't communicate the kind of desperation you'd expect from this person. While she spoke/wrote of eating and drinking too much, these were usually presented comically and had no dramatic weight. There are real people in the same sorts of predicaments who pacify their disappointment in drink and food, and it's rarely cute or comical. The movie would have benefited greatly from a truer representation of Bridget's disappointment, making the ending that much more satisfying.