Brilliant Bridget

Rating: 8/10 (12 April 2001)

The story of a career girl in London fighting herself, her boss, her mother and her dinner parties. Ingredients for a comedy? Most definately.
Settling down in a darkened room, having to endure the loud grating snickering of hysterical teenage girls is certainly not in my top 20 'things to do' list. But, come to think of it...
Seriously, this is a raucous British comedy which left me feeling good.
The story's simple. A three way love triangle theme, the way of many a great theatrical yarn. And this is great! Bridget Jones (Renee Zellweger) meets Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), a barrister of great repute, at one of her mother's yearly 'curry' get togethers. The word 'repel' would not fully describe their first rendezvous. Bridget works in the hustle and bustle world of London publishing,Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) is her sexually carniverous boss who charms 'Jones' to bed, a seemingly perfect match. Rejection leads her to begin her diary.
The screenplay written by Richard Curtis(Four Weddings, Blackadder et c. et c. et c.) and Andrew Davies(Middlemarch et c. et c. et c. ) adapted from the novel by Helen Fielding gallops on and on, at a pace that doesn't leave you much time to breathe, with stylish wit and humour. All credit has to be given to the director Sharon Maguire for keeping hold of those reigns!
The role of Bridget Jones, certainly controversial, was an inspired choise. Renee Zellweger was so convincing as the clumsy, bumbling, thirty-something looking for Mr. Right - You'll just fall in love with her! Colin Firth and Hugh Grant deserve their due. Also, watch out for Sally Philips the hip and crazy 'journo' Sharon "Shazzer". From the hilarious 'Smack the Pony' and a multitude of TV roles to the widescreen of cinema - let's hope her career continues to flourish.
All in all, this is not a 'classic'and does not pretend to be so. It's just good fun - so get down to the cinema and join in!