Zellweger and Co. bring `Bridget Jones' to life
By MEG RYAN
Scene Movie Critic
When one sees a movie based on a book they've read, they usually walk out of the theatre disappointed. "Bridget Jones's Diary," on the other hand, proves to be an exception.
Avid readers of Helen Fielding's novel have been waiting for this movie since before it was cast. They probably thought the movie could never do the book justice, especially since an American, Renee Zellweger, has been cast in the lead as a British woman.
In what should be much to their surprise and delight, Zellweger portrays Bridget perfectly, becoming an important element in one of the best romantic comedies in recent years.
Bridget Jones, a 32-year-old "singleton" living in London, buys a diary at the beginning of the year to help keep her New Year's resolutions and develop inner poise. Her resolutions give a glimpse into her character: quit smoking, drink less, not fall for "alcoholics, workaholics, commitment phobics, people with girlfriends or wives, chauvinists, emotional f--kwits, freeloaders or perverts," lose weight and "be a poised and cool ice-queen." Any of those sound familiar?
Bridget is loveable because everyone, male or female, can see a piece of themselves in her.
She is obsessed with finding a nice, reliable boyfriend because she is constantly reminded by all of the "smug marrieds" that her biological clock is ticking.
Instead of a nice, reliable boyfriend, she falls for her publishing house boss: Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), "a bona fide sex god." Their relationship develops through flirtatious e-mails at work.
Meanwhile, Bridget's mother is trying to set her up with successful barrister, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), a friend of the family whose wading pool Bridget used to run around naked in as a child. On several occasions, Bridget embarrasses herself horribly in front of Darcy. Her verbal mishaps coupled with Darcy's stern and uninviting manner prevent themfrom blossoming into friends, let alone a serious, responsible couple.
The rest of the movie follows Bridget through a hysterical year in her diary of romantic luck, misfortune, professionalism on the job and progression towards inner poise.
Fans of the book, and many in the United Kingdom, were not pleased with the selection of Zellweger as Jones, citing she was way too skinny and, more importantly, not British. Thankfully, with an accent coach and a diet of hamburgers, pizza and candy, she was transformed into the perfect representation of Bridget. Zellweger plays the embarrassing mishaps and delivers the monologues with absolute perfection.
Grant finally breaks free from his typical nice guy role to play a "sex god," and he proves to do it quite well. He and Zellweger have electric chemistry that pulls the viewer into their scenes.
Colin Firth also perfectly captures his role as a serious lawyer who just can't express himself very well. Other shining additions to the cast are Bridget's parents, played by Jim Broadbent and Gemma Jones.
The success of "Bridget Jones's Diary" must also be accredited to all who worked behind the camera. Their tight relations to the characters and the story are a winning formula.
The book's author, Helen Fielding, played an intricate part in bringing her novel to the screen. She worked alongside writers Andrew Davies (who wrote a TV version of "Pride and Prejudice," which "Jones" is loosely based on) and Richard Curtis (who also wrote two other Hugh Grant movies: "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Notting Hill").
First-time film director, Sharon Maguire, is a close friend of Fielding as well. In fact, Jones' friend, Shazzer, is based on Maguire. This tight-knit team captures the book and the characters very well.
Some scenes have been added and, of course, not everything is included; but fans of the book will certainly love the film version of "Bridget Jones's Diary." They may even leave the theatre wanting to read it again.
Even those who have not (yet) read the novel will enjoy the movie, for they'll meet a character they can't help but love.
There is a little part of Bridget Jones that shines in all of us, especially when we do something embarrassing.
--four and a half shamrocks (out of five)
All Scene Stories for Thursday, April 19, 2001
