Bridget no Gidget in romance/comedy
by Ashley Clark, entertainment editor

    Those who are tired of fairy tale, happily ever after, fluffy romantic comedies would enjoy Bridget Jones’s Diary, a seemingly realistic love story about genuine characters who defy Hollywood clichés

    Bridget Jones, played by Renee Zellweger, makes Ally McBeal’s perpetual lonely life look glamorous. At age 31, her personal life consists mostly of smoking, drinking and vegging out in front of the television.

    On a social level, most associates her age are married, leaving her to run with the same three single friends she’s known for years.

    Her love life is nonexistent save for the nerdy sons-of-friends her mother introduces her to at holiday parties, and her goal in life is to keep her New Year’s resolutions.

    The latest of mother’s introductions is the seemingly cold and passive Mark Darsey, a childhood friend, played by Colin Firth.

    At first, Mark is Bridget’s worst nightmare, and she scribbles over and over in her diary about how much she hates him.

    Instead, she takes on an affair with her boss, Daniel, played remarkably by Hugh Grant.

    Daniel and Bridget’s romance begins with fireworks when Bridget wears an extremely short skirt to work and snowballs into what seems to be the perfect romance.

    As it sometimes tends to, life throws a curve ball at the most unexpected times and things don’t always end up as predicted.

    With all the cookie-cutter romantic movies being made starring beautiful woman X and drop dead gorgeous man Y meeting in a perfect situation heading toward paradise in one week, it’s refreshing to see a film that has life as a costar as well.

    Being set in Britain, one can’t help jumping on the judgment train from the start, audio-scrutinizing Zellweger’s staged accent.

    At first, the verdict is “nice try,” but as the film progresses, Zellweger tends to fit right in with her European native castmates.

    This is pretty much the film’s only criticism—and a small one at that—as Zellweger shines as the below average Jane dealing with several life complications and a goal to rise above it all.

    Ally McBeal, the prime-time television show, is actually a fair comparison to the entire movie.

    Zelwegger’s character is just a little more clumsy and frumpy with a weight and drinking problem she monitors religiously in her diary. At times, her dilemmas about life occurrences form visions of how she would like her problems to wrap up.

    As with Ally McBeal’s trademark special effects, the visions being played in Bridget’s head are projected on screen for the audience as well.

    Bridget Jones’s Diary portrays the same campy humor Ally McBeal is famous for.

    During a confrontation at work, Bridget is caught in a lie, and her inner thoughts are humorously typed across the screen.

    Comparable to the David Kelley creation as well is the active role the musical soundtrack seems to play.

    Depending on the action taking place, a correlating song plays in the background humorously stopping and starting with the events on film.

    During a fistfight between Grant and Firth, It’s Raining Men comically stops and starts with the swings and kicks of the rival characters.

    When Bridget takes a stand telling off Daniel at work after a bitter encounter, Aretha Franklin’s Respect highlights the moment.
One notable contrast to the television show is that Bridget is an average secretary without a Hollywood body.

    Audiences may be interested to know that Zelwegger’s obviously intentional weight problem in the movie isn’t a setup for the character to disappear for three months and return as every man’s dream in order to “show them all” this time.

    In fact, her weight plays a big part of representing a woman’s search to find a man that loves her “just as she is.”

    Not to worry, even though it sounds trite, this is one romantic comedy that eliminates the fluff, cheesepuffs and cornballs, leaving a meaty, realistic, yet intelligent and entertaining romantic comedy that even the guys would like.