“Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” (Universal Pictures)
Renee Zellwegger returns to the role of Bridget Jones in the sequel titled “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.” Once again she plays the British lass who is a bit overweight and a trifle overeager. She is still loose of lip and manages to once again put her romance with the loveable Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) in danger.
When the movie starts Bridget and Mark are happily in love. She is pleasantly plump and he loves her that way. Still he hasn’t popped the question and as always she is full of self doubt. As a way of dumping him before he can dump her she invents an excuse for them to fight. The excuse is his very attentive co-worker Rebecca (Jacinda Barrett).
Temptation has also crossed Bridget’s path in the form of the always caddish Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant). He wants Bridget and he doesn’t care if Darcy wants her too. In one of the film’s most hilarious scenes Cleaver and Darcy get into a fistfight and neither of them knows the first thing about striking the other. They just flail about wildly and in a most gentlemanly fashion.
The movie is basically a rerun of the first Bridget Jones’ movie. The script is basically the same; the cast is the same; only the jokes have been changed. Still there is merit in this movie because of the absolute talent of the cast.
Renee Zellwegger is amazing as Bridget. She packed on some poundage for the role but her beauty lies not in her full figure but in her irrepressible attitude. Bridget may be down at times but she is never out. Not even when she is packed away in a foreign prison. She’ll just get to know her fellow inmates and teach them a Madonna song or two.
Hugh Grant is at his best when playing the worst sort of character. His Daniel is a loser but Grant makes him have a sparkle in his eye and a winning way with the ladies. He may be no good but he is good at being no good.
As Darcy, Firth is the eternal romantic dream. He is a man women seek and the type they want to keep. He makes Bridget a better person and she makes him a more romantic lover. They compliment each other and are a perfect match.
The movie is rated R for profanity and sexual situations.
The world didn’t need a sequel to “Bridget Jones’ Diary” but it got one just the same. This sameness of the stories and characters is its weakness and its strength. There is comfort in familiarity and also enhanced enjoyment when you know characters this well. Zellwegger, Firth and Grant could play these roles in their sleep but in this sequel they are alive and lively. They give spark to the film and make it much better than it should be.
I scored “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” a reasonable 6 out of 10.
