Renee stars in a funny and entertaining film

Rating: 8/10 (27 December 2007)

A delightful film which accurately and skilfully adapts Helen Fielding's unusual novel for the screen. Key to the film's success is Renee Zellweger who is truly outstanding as Bridget. I expect that a few eyebrows were raised when an American actress got the part of the quintessentially English heroine  but Ms Zellweger delivers a performance of such authenticity that you soon forget her Texan roots. It is not just her accent (accurate though that is) but she IS the epitome of a thirty-something English girl of modern times. She is Bridget Jones.
As with most movies in which Richard Curtis is involved below the surface of the very funny script there are some quite serious undercurrents running. These include the fact that groups of friends are a source of strength when times are difficult. We saw this in "Four Weddings" and "Notting Hill" and we see it again here. Indeed some of the best moments involve Bridget's support group with James Callis particularly good as the gay faded pop star.
Hugh Grant and Colin Firth bring to life the very different characters of Daniel Cleaver and Mark Darcy and there is a delightful cameo by James Faulkner as the predatory Uncle Geoffrey. But the best supporting performance is Jim Broadbent who believably portrays Bridget's father coping with the mid life crisis of his rather barmy wife.
The soundtrack is also good  worth buying the album.