Diaries are where we often express our true selves. The self that we all too often hide behind formal pleasantries out of fear of being seen as strange or uncouth. I often think of this blog as my diary in fact, where my dirtiest darkest secrets come out, such as my love for romantic comedies and that Colin Firth is one of the sexiest men alive. It should come as no surprise then that 2001’s Bridget Jones’ Diary is among my favourite romantic comedies of all time as it encompasses all of these facets into one fantastically funny film!
Thirty-two-year-old Bridget Jones (Renee Zellweger) is single, overweight, drinks like a fish, smokes like a chimney, is completely verbally incontinent, and keeps falling for emotionally unavailable men. After a meeting with Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) at a family event she becomes painfully aware of this fact and sets herself some new years resolutions to change herself into a better woman. However almost immediately she enters a workplace romance with her boss Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), a man who has a reputation for not being a one-woman kind of man.
As Bridget and Mark share a friendship circle and live close to each other the two naturally run into each other multiple times over the following year often with drastically different outcomes from each meeting, and Daniel’s unfaithfulness puts Bridget on a new career path and mindset.
Even though I have almost nothing in common with her (because I am a man in his mid-twenties, not a woman in her early thirties) I find Bridget incredibly relatable. I regularly find throughout the film that I have been Bridget in many of the situations I’ve found myself in. Whether it be suffering from verbal diarrhoea, turning up to a fancy-dress part in a compromising outfit, or drowning my sorrows in a bottle of wine whilst listening to power ballads. Zellweger delivers an arguably career best performance as Bridget, and despite Zellweger being American and Bridget being English I can’t actually think of anyone better to play the role.
Hugh Grant & Colin Firth play their respective archetypal late 90’s early 00’s rom-com characters, and whilst it may be difficult at times to distinguish one role of theirs from another there is a good reason why they were typecast in such a way and it’s because the two are simply superb at doing it. Together it feels as though the holy trinity has been formed for rom-com leads and it makes for some incredible scenes as they all bounce off each other so well.
Thirty-two-year-old Bridget Jones (Renee Zellweger) is single, overweight, drinks like a fish, smokes like a chimney, is completely verbally incontinent, and keeps falling for emotionally unavailable men. After a meeting with Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) at a family event she becomes painfully aware of this fact and sets herself some new years resolutions to change herself into a better woman. However almost immediately she enters a workplace romance with her boss Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), a man who has a reputation for not being a one-woman kind of man.
As Bridget and Mark share a friendship circle and live close to each other the two naturally run into each other multiple times over the following year often with drastically different outcomes from each meeting, and Daniel’s unfaithfulness puts Bridget on a new career path and mindset.
Even though I have almost nothing in common with her (because I am a man in his mid-twenties, not a woman in her early thirties) I find Bridget incredibly relatable. I regularly find throughout the film that I have been Bridget in many of the situations I’ve found myself in. Whether it be suffering from verbal diarrhoea, turning up to a fancy-dress part in a compromising outfit, or drowning my sorrows in a bottle of wine whilst listening to power ballads. Zellweger delivers an arguably career best performance as Bridget, and despite Zellweger being American and Bridget being English I can’t actually think of anyone better to play the role.
Hugh Grant & Colin Firth play their respective archetypal late 90’s early 00’s rom-com characters, and whilst it may be difficult at times to distinguish one role of theirs from another there is a good reason why they were typecast in such a way and it’s because the two are simply superb at doing it. Together it feels as though the holy trinity has been formed for rom-com leads and it makes for some incredible scenes as they all bounce off each other so well.
It doesn’t mean that Bridget Jones is without fault though. The most egregious issue I have with the film is that many jokes are made at the expense of Bridget’s size. She is always referred to as a big girl, and almost everyone in the film at one point or another tells her in a roundabout way that she is fat. But she isn’t. This is most likely down to the fact that Zellweger just was not the right size to play Bridget, but it does feel odd to keep making fat jokes about someone who isn’t really any larger than her co-stars who are making the jokes.
Next is that the pacing is a little weird. It doesn’t really feel as though there is a traditional act structure to the story. I guess that makes it feel a little more true to life, as life doesn’t follow a neat three or five act structure, but as a result I always feel like the film is drawing to a close when it isn’t, and then the ending just blindsides you when it does come around.
But these issues don’t really hold much ground when looked at in comparison to the bigger picture because everything else is so great. I mean this film showcases the greatest fight scene in cinematic history as Hugh Grant & Colin Firth pathetically chase each other, pull each other's hair, and interrupt a birthday in a restaurant. What more could you ask for from a film?
I could go on gushing praise about this film all day but I’ll save you the embarrassment, but I would recommend this film in a heartbeat for those in need of a good laugh. It’s one of the best films of the early 00’s, as well as one of the greatest rom-com's ever made. You’ll also develop a whole new fondness of granny knickers and if that isn’t worth the price of admission alone then I think you’re beyond help.
Next is that the pacing is a little weird. It doesn’t really feel as though there is a traditional act structure to the story. I guess that makes it feel a little more true to life, as life doesn’t follow a neat three or five act structure, but as a result I always feel like the film is drawing to a close when it isn’t, and then the ending just blindsides you when it does come around.
But these issues don’t really hold much ground when looked at in comparison to the bigger picture because everything else is so great. I mean this film showcases the greatest fight scene in cinematic history as Hugh Grant & Colin Firth pathetically chase each other, pull each other's hair, and interrupt a birthday in a restaurant. What more could you ask for from a film?
I could go on gushing praise about this film all day but I’ll save you the embarrassment, but I would recommend this film in a heartbeat for those in need of a good laugh. It’s one of the best films of the early 00’s, as well as one of the greatest rom-com's ever made. You’ll also develop a whole new fondness of granny knickers and if that isn’t worth the price of admission alone then I think you’re beyond help.