Just seconds into Sharon Maguire’s adaptation of Helen Fielding’s beloved novel, it’s hard to imagine that there was such controversy surrounding the casting of Renée Zellweger as 32-year-old British singleton Bridget Jones. From the moment we see her trudging through the snow over a self-deprecating voiceover, it’s clear that this was a perfect casting decision.
Bridget Jones is a bubbly girl, but she finds herself struggling with her weight, her family, her job, her self-esteem, and her love life, or, more accurately, the lack thereof. As a new year begins, Bridget starts keeping a diary in an effort to get control of her life. Despite her resolution not to “form romantic attachments to any of the following: alcoholics, workaholics, commitment phobics, people with girlfriends or wives, misogynists, megalomaniacs, chauvinists, emotional fuckwits or freeloaders,” she finds herself pining for her boss, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant). He eventually begins flirting with Bridget via instant messaging, which leads to an affair and something resembling a relationship. Because of her new found romance, Bridget finds herself losing weight, smoking only post coital, and most importantly, having a positive response to family and friends when asked: “So, Bridge, how’s your love life?”
While Bridget is over the moon about Daniel Cleaver, she loathes Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). Mark, an old friend of the family, is a rich, cultured, barrister. She first meets him at a New Year’s Turkey Curry Buffet where they are both wearing ridiculous clothing picked out for them by their well meaning, but clueless parents. Bridget keeps running into Mark Darcy at the most inopportune times, such as when she’s making a disastrous speech at a book party or shows up dressed as a Playboy bunny at a formal garden party. Through it all, the once stuffy Mr. Darcy is beginning to warm up to Bridget.
Unfortunately for Bridget, it’s not long before she realizes her relationship with Daniel is going nowhere. She wants love and marriage…Daniel? Well, he’s not a one woman man. Rejected by Daniel’s infidelity, she quits her job and finds a new one in broadcasting, soon becoming a minor television celebrity due to her spunk and candor on a tabloid show called Sit Up Britain.
Just when her interest in Mark begins to emerge (following his statement that he likes her just as she is), he hooks up with man-eating lawyer Natasha (Embeth Davidtz), who is determined to marry him. Will Bridget ever find love?
Those acquainted with Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice will find some familiar characters and elements in Bridget Jones’s Diary. While it would be unfair to call Bridget Jones’s Diary a 20th-century re-interpretation of Pride and Prejudice, there are some parallels—at least one of which the filmmakers decided to emphasize. Colin Firth, who played Mr. Darcy in the hugely popular 1995 BBC/A&E television production of Pride and Prejudice, plays this part exactly as he played the earlier role, making it evident that the two Darcy’s are essentially the same. He’s a repressed snob who gradually, unwillingly finds himself falling for the least appropriate woman around him—Bridget (who, upon close examination, bears a passing resemblance to Elizabeth Bennet). Hugh Grant brings all the charm he can muster to the role of Daniel—a man who betters his chances with Bridget by telling a lie about Mark. Like Austen’s Wickham, this guy is too good to be true, and proves our suspicions correct. Grant, who, like Firth, has appeared in an Austen adaptation (Sense and Sensibility), is at home in the role. Fine supporting performances are given by Jim Broadbent and Gemma Jones as Bridget’s parents.
Framed in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, this 1080p transfer is definite step up in quality from any of the previous standard DVD editions. There is no print damage or debris present, and the detail and sharpness is quite good. Most noticeably, fleshtones look natural and colors are vibrant. Contrast is fairly well balanced and blacks are solid. Lionsgate has done a solid job with this title.
The lossless 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track does a good job with this dialogue driven film. Voices are clear throughout, and midtones are given a bit of a boost. You won’t feel a lot of surround activity, because much of the activity is coming from the front channels, but that works for this type of film.
All of the special features appeared on the Special; Collector’s Edition released in 2004.
- Audio Commentary from director Sharon Maguire: she discusses how the book was adapted into a film, discusses intricate details about the movie, and various characters.
- Featurette: The Young and the Mateless: several interviewees provide their thoughts on living the single life.
- Featurette: Bridget Phenomenon: shows Helen Fielding´s book, original newspaper publications, and the movie.
- Making of Featurette: Opening with a list of things the featurette will or will not do (“will not be overly self-promotional”), this is a slightly less than 10 minute look at the making of the movie, with interviews from the author, director and cast, as well as some behind-the-scenes features. It is rather promotional, but it’s a light and funny look at the making of the picture.
- Portrait of the Make-up Artist: showing the make-up artists from the film.
- Deleted Scenes: 7 deleted scenes are. These sequences are likely cut out for pacing reasons, but there is no optional commentary to discuss their actual reason for being deleted from the film. Still, there are a few funny moments here and the scenes do present worthwhile viewing for Bridget Jones fans.
- Domestic and international TV spots.
- A Guide to Bridget Britishisms that explains commonly used British phrases.
