Wow! Easily the best thing so far this year!

Rating: Null/10 (8 April 2001)

I came to BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY without having read the book(s), and had no particular expectations (other than hoping Zellweger aced the accent -- American revenge for GONE WITH THE WIND!). To my complete surprise, this charming and utterly hilarious film hooked me from the very beginning. Zellweger is adroitly comical as Bridget -- in a completely different way from her spacey take on "Nurse Betty." And how refreshing to see her with a "normal" body, rather than the usual Hollywood stick-figure. Hugh Grant, back in another "charming cad" role, is equally well-cast and Colin Firth is super as Mark Darcy, stalwart and slightly quirky. The pace never lags (a danger with comedies), and the ending is genuinely affecting. This is a don't miss -- for all birds and their blokes.