Bridget Jones lovers all over the world have waited eagerly for Helen Fielding’s blockbuster novel “The Bridget Jones Diary” to make its way to the big screen. As with most novels-turned-films, people were anxious to see if their revered heroine would make the transition in tact. My fellow Bridget admirers, she did, and oh, how she did.
Renée Zellweger (“Nurse Betty” and “Jerry Maguire”) seems an unlikely choice to portray the British literary icon. Born and bred in Texas with a Southern drawl to boot, Zellweger is practically the antithesis of the chain-smoking, vodka-chugging and big-city socialite. But have no fear, Zellweger managed to not only conquer the British accent but also gained 15 pounds, became a smoking fiend and mastered the hilarious British lingo to create Bridget Jones personified.
Blessed with a script adapted proficiently by Fielding, the film entertained scenes not illustrated in the novel yet so in line with Bridget’s character they were easy to imagine. From attending the dreaded Turkey Curry Buffet to trading crazed e-mails bursting with sexual innuendo with her boss to sliding down a fire pole with her thong-encased bum slamming into a video camera, Bridget inadvertently involves herself in situations so preposterous yet so normal that the audience revels in the routine of it all.
Directed by Sharon Maguire, the real-life inspiration for Bridget’s best friend Shazzer, the film takes an intimate look into the life of a typical woman via her diary. Set in the idyllic city of London, the film follows a year in the life of Bridget Jones. Work catastrophes, mother problems, appearance qualms and of course, the ever-present relationship traumas dominate the film.
Hugh Grant (“Notting Hill” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral”) takes on the caddish but charming role of Bridget’s boss, Daniel Cleaver. Cleaver is obviously all wrong for Bridget and its delightful to witness her come to that realization through many laughs and a few tears. Grant shines in the role of the bad boy with his rugged good looks and blasé acting style.
Colin Firth (“Shakespeare in Love,” “The English Patient”) will no doubt transcend his British icon status to become a major heartthrob in the U.S. with his role as Mark Darcy. Fielding wrote the role of Darcy with Firth in mind, and it’s blatantly obvious why as he slips into the role quietly, captivating the audience with his remarkable talent.
Darcy irritates Bridget from the get-go, as he appears to be nothing more than a snobby intellect devoid of all emotion. As the film progresses, Darcy’s rigid exterior begins to crack showing his dry humor and raw passion. Bridget is soon torn between the man who makes her want to turn into a shagging (think “Austin Powers”) maniac and the man who makes her blood boil yet simultaneously intrigues her beyond belief.
The film is backed by a high-energy soundtrack including a rousing cover of “It’s Raining Men” by ex-Spice Girl, Geri Halliwell as well as classic girl power tunes like “RESPECT” and “I’m Every Woman.”
“Bridget Jones’s Diary” is an excellent film encompassing a hilarious everywoman tale as told by an outstanding cast. Run out to the theater and discover the Bridget in you.
