Well, well, well its another British romantic comedy and its another book to film adaptation. And it’s actually a damn good one, which considering the mass amount of hype it has received is very pleasing indeed.
Yes Bridget Jones's Diary is a success, and I don’t just mean financial wise either, its clocked up a £7m total here in the UK already making it the ninth highest grossing opener ever. Bridget Jones is also a success because it does what its supposed to do, make you laugh, and with Richard Curtis at the helm of writing the film it means you'll laugh a lot, with him being responsible for Four Weddings, Notting Hill, Bean & The Vicar of Dibly.
So for those who don't know the book or the film, and I admit now I have not read the book, Bridget Jones is a 30 something, chain smoking, Chardonnay guzzling, calorie counting, modern woman. After the annual turkey curry meal at her parent’s house, which ends like any other, with her leaving single, she decides then to buy a diary and make some resolutions. Lose weight, give up smoking and find a decent man. The weight and the smoking parts are really put on the side-burner for the film, with most of the attention going towards her love life. Bridget has to end up choosing Mr. Right who seems to be wrong (Mark Darcy, Colin Firth) and Mr. Wrong who seems to be right (Daniel Cleaver, Hugh Grant). It could have fallen into the tired 'rom-com' situation, but it really doesn’t, because this film doesn’t take itself seriously at all.
The casting of this film is excellent. There was a slight, shall we say outburst when it was reveled Renée Zellweger was the girl that was to play Bridget. Fans of the book screamed at the fact that an American was to play the beloved British 30 something female, even Zellweger was surprised. However after watching this you can’t imagine anyone else playing Bridget, Zellweger is a class act, and although her accent slips up a few times she does a pretty convincing act.
Hugh Grant seems to be the staple of every romantic comedy to come out of Britain, up to the point where you just have to avoid the films he's in. Lucking though its a bit of a turn-around, the guy with the floppy fringe is no longer dippy, but the manipulative, two-timing and sneaky bloke that is Bridget's boss. Colin Firth, (Pride and Prejudice’s Mr. Darcy, who plays Mark Darcy also does well and playing the 'sensible' guy in the film, but not sickably so, he gets good lines and some nice clothes to wear.
Like I said, this film doesn’t take itself seriously and there are some hilarious scenes. For example, seeing Renée Zellweger in a bunny costume at a 'Vicars and Prostitute Party' has to be seen to be believed. There's the fantasy of every disgruntled worker of showing up you boss in front of everyone in the office. It's the part where Bridget's mother runs off with a cheesy, purple coloured man. There's so much going for this film.
The film flaunts Bridget to the maximum. It sticks both fingers at the American's for 'slim is beautiful' because in the movie Bridget is big and proud of it, indeed it seems to be celebrated (especially in the 'Hello mummy' scene with Grant and Zellweger). There are ample shots of her chest and thighs, not for titillation (for the most part) but to be bold and say that she's big but she's getting it and people love her as she is.
This is indeed a promising start to debut director Sharon Maguire's career, she took the risks but she's pulled it off. And this is a film for both men and women, it's not a standard 'chick flick' because there is plenty for both sexes to enjoy, don’t be put off by the female hoards that will be rushing in to see it.
Bridget Jones's Diary is nothing new or revolutionary in the film world as a whole and it does wear thin in some places but all in all its an overly enjoyable 2 hours of film which adds something extra to the tiring genre of romantic comedy.
BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY IS
Romantic Funny Going to boost sales of diaries
BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY IS NOT
For women only A typical romantic comedy Boring
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