Bridget Jones's Diary DVD > Reviews > Bridget Jones a very funny film

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Unmemorable
How does it compare to similar films?	Good

Advantages:	Well made  -  funny  -  British
Disadvantages:	More of the same from Mr . Grant

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I was keen to see if this film would live up to its hype. Whilst settling down with my 7UP and popcorn I admitted to my other half that I had no idea what the story was about, other than covering the rather late coming of age of a young independent girl (Bridget Jones), she ,who had suggested seeing the film, rather sheepishly admitted that she knew less about it than me, making us a very unfashionable couple having not read the book.

I was impressed at the opening credits by the amount of apparent input by the author, she seemed to have blagged several top jobs directing. Scripting, advising etc.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see that my old mate Hugh Grant was starring, I am not ashamed to say as a bloke that I like him, he’s very good at what he does, just a shame he only seems to be given the soppy, upper class English twit type roll, probably because he’s a soppy upper class English twit, none the worse for that though.

The film: I loved it, it made me laugh out loud on a number of occasions, the fight scene outside Bridget’s flat has to be the highlight for me, real upper class twit at its best.

Bridget’s character, well you could only feel sorry for her, a single thirty something girl who is being pushed into various unsuitable relationships by her interfering parents, she finally falls for one of them, but only after declaring her hate for him and pushing him away on more than one occasion.

She (Bridget) works for a London publishing house where her boss is our friend Mr.Grant, known for his dubious character and womanising, so Bridget obviously has a relationship with him. She has the habit of doing and saying the wrong thing at exactly the worst time, I cringed inside on a number of occasions, feeling really sorry for her, the highlights in her performance were the speech at the ruby wedding party and her resignation speech. And would you believe even the old fancy dress party joke worked brilliantly – anyone who makes that funny gets my Del Boy award for comedy.

All the while, Miss Jones’s diary is kept up to date with her deepest thoughts and feelings, imparted from time to time to the audience, mostly about the two competitors for her affection.

Bridget is also blessed with a group of three friends who support her in these troubled times, they add a bit of substance to the story, which on the screen, screamed Four Weddings and a Funeral at me, not a bad thing, as that is one of my favourite films, but, given the earlier mentioned input from the author, I had to wonder why.

In years to come, the current (last 10 years of) British films will no doubt be given some corny name to reflect the style of: Four Weddings, Notting Hill, Bridget Jones and probably a few more. Its becoming something akin to Carry On films of the sixties, a well proven formula which just couldn’t develop into anything more. Having said that, I like the style, the humour, although a bit predictable IS very good, the performances, likewise ARE strong, nice to see familiar small screen faces on the big screen, the soundtrack, predictable but familiar.

More information on the storyline, would spoil the film for you – just to say:

If you liked the format of Four Wedding and Notting Hill, you will like this film.
If you want hard hitting urban realism - stay well away.
If you are offended by copious casual swearing – stay away.
If you are offended by images of central London in wintertime where occasional couples walk casually along uncongested city streets – definitely stay away. (I thought this to be a worse crime than the swearing).

The test for any film has to be would you watch it again, or recommend it to a friend – yes on both counts – a definite thumbs up.