A film review by Mark O'Hara Copyright © 2001 Mark O'Hara

I don’t remember anyone complaining about the casting of Brit Bob Hoskins in the major movie WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT? His American accent was fine.

What’s all this, then, about Renee Zellweger cast as Bridget Jones? Granted, Jones represents the very British lifestyle of contemporary thirtysomethings – but I did not pick out one phrase in which Zellweger’s accent rang false; and certainly the social and cultural pratfalls she takes are universal!

Zellweger does just fine as the publicity specialist working for the London publishing house. Angst and self-consciousness color her entire character, and her faults make her endearingly human. A lot of the success of this flick depends on director Sharon Maguire’s quick pace. But Zellweger deserves credit for a style of acting so transparent that we do not stop long enough to notice many faults.

Bridget Jones is single, in her early thirties, and she definitely drinks too much. We hope she will not fall in with her dashing but jerky boss, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), but it becomes obvious she will. We know she will not take up with the arrogant barrister Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), and things get very interesting when Darcy changes his hateful tune toward Bridget.

This is basically the plot. A thin triangle of love handled with competent directing and solid acting. Not a profound piece of work, but a well-done romantic comedy that begs to be a bit longer than 95 minutes. (Would we not like to see another of Bridget’s flamboyant reports, after her sudden and serendipitous career change?)

Hugh Grant is an old hand at this stuff. It is good to see the arch side of his acting talent, as Daniel Cleaver ranges about mercilessly among what he must believe is the weaker sex. And Colin Firth has a certain stolid unpredictability in his manner – here’s an actor made for comedies of manner.

The background stories are also very diverting. Bridget’s mother has a horrid though hilarious time with her mid-life crisis. It’s a romance with a rich fop who peddles cheap jewelry over the television. Gemma Jones is precious in her wide-eyed emotion, and Jim Broadbent as her husband Colin puts on wonderful bewilderment in his role as loving father/deserted husband. Between this subplot and the one with Bridget’s own television experience, the movie gets in several digs about British TV, a fact that gives the piece a solid foundation of satire.

The diary themes help to unify the picture, entering occasionally to voice Bridget’s personality and ongoing battle with her own bad habits.

Helen Fielding’s works about Bridget Jones may well fill another couple of movie adaptations, as it’s a sure bet this one will please audiences – whether or not they have read the novels. I imagine Zellweger will be cast as future incarnations of Bridget as well, as she has insinuated herself thoroughly into the role and many viewers’ hearts.

	Running Time: 95 Min | Rated: R | US Release: April 13th | More >>

Related Links:

• Official Site
• Singletons of the World Unite
• Upcomingmovies.com: Bridget Jones' Diary

Uninhibited. Uncensored. Unmarried.