Bridget Jones: A chick flick, but will men like it too?

Two reviewers debate the merits and downfalls of the highly anticipated sequel

Blake Hinton / Reviewer

It seemed for a while that British could do no wrong when one is discussing romantic comedies. Films like “Notting Hill” and “Love Actually” were great movies that demonstrated a penchant for witty dialogue and memorable characters.

There was nothing surprising as far as plot twists in either of those movies or films like it, but it was the smart writing that set themselves apart from the many horrible romantic comedies that come out in the United States. That is why it’s quite sad to report that “Bridget Jones Diary: The Edge Of Reason” while not terrible is not particularly good either.

As far as the plot goes, if you’ve seen the first movie you’ve seen this one as it’s plot is exactly the same. The movie starts off with Bridget Jones (Renee Zellweger) happily married to Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). She still has her job as a television reporter, and her neurotic and self-loathing habits that she just can’t get rid of. One would think that the end of the first film would have cured that as that was her character arc in the first movie. Of course, the screenwriters ignore that and seem to rewind her maturity level just so they can get more jokes in.
For Bridget Jones, paradise doesn’t last for long.

As Bridget becomes more involved with Darcy’s life, she realizes that she just doesn’t fit in. On top of that, she begins to believe that Darcy might be cheating on her with his female partner at work.

At that time, she also runs into Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) who hosts a travel segment for the show she works for. Things get awkward for the two when they’re sent off to India on a travel segment, and Bridget must finally decide who she really wants in her life.

As far as the acting goes everyone is great, but this is not that big of a surprise. The characters remain the same so the actors could have done the roles in their sleep. Zellwegger was especially adorable, much like in the first film.

This isn’t a terrible film. The acting is fine and some of the jokes work despite how contrived they are. It’s just too bad that the filmmakers couldn’t break from the book’s storyline and create a story that built off the first movie.

The movie touches on some serious issues within Bridget and Mark’s relationship, but further exploration of that is left by the way side. That would have been a great movie. As of now the movie’s mediocre and nothing more.

Contact Blake Hinton at pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247.

Photo courtesy of movies.com

Jessica Kemp / Reviewer

At the start of the sequel to the 2001 hit comedy “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” the character of Bridget, reprised by Renee Zellweger, is once again contemplating her love life. Bridget sets up the story by saying, “The question is, what happens after you walk into the sunset?”

“Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” continues the story of Bridget and her lawyer boyfriend Mark Darcy, portrayed by the enticingly handsome Colin Firth, as they reach the six-week mark of their romantic relationship.

The movie, loosely based on the novel of the same name by Helen Fielding, is more entertaining and enjoyable than the original.  It answers the question most single women want to ask – how does an average, thirty something single woman keep the attention of an attractive, intelligent male?

The movie addresses this question while progressing through Bridget’s neurosis and a hysterical sequence of events that find Bridget once again working with the devilish Daniel Cleaver, played by the dashing Hugh Grant. 

Throughout the movie, Bridget continually embarrasses herself and eventually finds herself locked up in a Thailand jail for a crime that she did not commit. 

Without giving too much away, there are events at the end of the movie involving Darcy’s colleague Rebecca that leave the audience in shock.

“The Edge of Reason” follows the basic formula as the first movie, but does not become boring or repetitive.  It is fresh, funny, and the typical romantic comedy we have come to expect from the British actors Firth and Grant.

Zellweger, who once again gained weight for the role of Bridget, does an exceptional acting job, complete with an authentic British accent.  She is able to play Bridget so convincingly that both single women and committed women can relate to her life.  And Firth and Grant leave every woman in the audience falling head over heels in love.

One of the highlights of the movie is when Darcy once again asks Cleaver to step outside so the two can fight.  Darcy drags Cleaver outside and begins to kick at him while Cleaver runs away like a girl.  The two end up falling in a water fountain and continuing their fight, which ends much like their fight ended in the original “Bridget Jones.”

Some males might find this movie a bit too chick-flickish for their tastes, but you have to take it for what it is. It is a romantic comedy that provides exactly what it promises in its title – romance and comedy.

Contact Jessica Kemp at pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247.