Rating: 
Summary: Pleasantly surprised
Review: I have to say that I didn't expect much from this movie, after not having enjoyed the book very much, but Bridget Jones's Diary surprised me. It is by no means a classic, but its charm and humor took it much further than the actual storyline, with was often trite and unbelievable. Still single and being set up on blind dates by her mother, Bridget (Renée Zellweger sporting a few extra pounds and a very good English accent), an overweight self-analyzing chainsmoker, suddenly finds herself being pursued by two men, one of whom is her boss, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) at the publishing company where she works, the other being a childhood friend, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), who has a tense history with Cleaver. I don't suppose that sexual harrassment is as much of an issue in Britain as it is in America, given that Cleaver's comment about Bridget's breasts actually wins her over (they do look rather nicer than the usual Zellweger variety, by the way). This was Grant's first chance to play an unlikable character and his innate charm gives an extra layer to the despicable Cleaver -- even making us sympathize with him for a bit, at least until the revelation at the end. Firth plays Darcy as an allusion to the Pride and Prejudice character he portrayed for the BBC; it is obvious from the beginning that he is the man for whom we're supposed to be rooting, simply because he is so troubled. Author Helen Fielding said she always had him in mind for the role; lucky for him, his star had recently risen so that he could be considered. Zellweger is wonderful. I don't usually like her, but she gives Bridget a human side that wasn't apparent in the book (where she is all neuroses, pounds, and cigarettes) -- and she's funny! All in all, Bridget Jones's Diary is a delightful film (although not one I would consider buying) that fills two hours serviceably and leaves the audience with a good feeling.
Rating: 
Summary: HORRIBLE, HIDEOUS, DISTASTEFUL, WANTON, LAME
Review: I wish there were a ranking BELOW 1 star. That was what my wife and I wanted to rank this movie. It was such an awful movie. It was quite simply the worst movie we ever watched.....actually couldn't stomach more than the first third. We turned if off and deleted it from our TIVO. Sexual innuendo is not "smart comedy", nor theatrical artistry. There was not a single funny joke at all. It was pathetic. What a waste of time!
Rating: 
Summary: 'Diary' Chock Full Of Ideas; Comedic Vignettes
Review: OK, first things first...Loved the book(s) and loved the movie...Though its premise was loosely based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, the new "contemporary" twist doesn't stray off from the story itself. The character of Bridget(played by Renee Zellwegger) was so embraced by all 30+somethings still looking for that "MR.DARCY" or better yet in the form of the true Mr. Darcy played by the wonderous Colin Firth. She is, in this movie, Elizabeth, searching for the ONE. And in doing so, is witted away by, in some sorts Wickham or Daniel Cleaver played by the ever-so surprising Hugh Grant. The surprise chemistry between all 3 main characters are proven throughout every situation. (Spoiler :And the fight scene between Colin Firth and Hugh Grant alone will make up for any faults in this movie :) ). The single, lonely, spinster; the aloof, repressed lawyer; and the bachelor of bachelors all wanting and looking, for the same thing. The message at the end just tells us that no matter what we try to be or look like or act like, "TRUE LOVE" will take you ......just as you are!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Ack! Fabulous Flick-Wittage!
Review: Renee Zellweger IS Bridget Jones, in my opinion, perhaps because I saw the movie before I read the book. Who else can convey Bridget's myriad and truly unique emotions with a simple roll of the eyes and a lift of the eyebrow? She makes us love her as she struggles with her "singleton" life as a 30s-something Brit who just can't quite get anything right. Having watched the movie again AFTER reading the book, I was even more enchanted with her wonderful performance. And of course the addition of Colin Firth as an updated Mister Darcy, parodying his own performance as the haughty and brooding Darcy in the BBC version of "Pride and Prejudice," is simply too delicious to miss. As Bridget devotees know, Bridget and her girlfriends have quite an obsession with Mr. Firth...and he plays along with the joke without once letting us down. It is Hugh Grant, however, who gave me pause. Hugh plays Hugh, as he always does, but this time he's the villain, if you will--Bridget's faithless and rotten boss Daniel, who loves her and leaves her a number of times. I just couldn't quite see Hugh as the bad guy, and he did not, to my mind, resemble the nasty user in the book. On the other hand, I always find him a delight, so this weakness did not ruin the movie for me. For those who like their movies to be absolute replicas of the book, this is not the one to watch. Rather, it is a delightful, fast-paced and maybe a little bit frenzied hodgepodge of bits and pieces of the book, with a little more thrown in. Some memorable parts of the book, such as Bridget's battle with the "nasty underpants," are taken out of context, but still very funny. The book's gentle parody of Pride and Prejudice is still in evidence, and very funny, thanks to the above-mentioned deadpan performance by Firth. Bridget is no Elizabeth Bennett, but the whole thing works, somehow, just as it did in the book. This is the kind of movie to pop into the VCR whilst drinking a bottle of wine with one's girlfriends in front of the telly. It doesn't get old, and it is simply pure pleasure.
Rating:
Summary: the complete defeat of feminism
Review: The 'epitome of womanhood?' I felt the film represents the complete defeat of feminism. "The Bible of thirtysomething single women everywhere" ???? I hope not.
Lets see, your sexist pig boss writes you "I like your XXXs" emails, and she's perfectly fine with that - doesn't even bring up the fact that it could be abusive; her uncle grabs her ass all the time and she doesn't even have a voice to tell him it's demeaning; --- people in Bridget's life are so unconscionably rude to her and she's so without any power she doesn't know to say anything back; -- man lies and cheats and she takes him back so easily....
Who knew today's women were so utterly insecure? Drinking alone for no other reason but she can't find a man.. There really is NOTHING else is in her mind.
It's put out as a sophisticated comedy and it is soooooo not.
Her friends are worse than she is - as shallow as can be - the foul-mouthed slapper, the obligatory gay guy .... they're like the antidote to TV's Friends.
To sum up: Mostly just In-your-face jokes, mostly predictable, and not even sporadically funny.
Rating:
Summary: Delicious Zellweger, Delectable Grant, and Hysterical Moment
Review: What a wonderful surprise this movie was to me. I resisted it I admit, thinking I wouldn't relate to the plump heroine coping with loveless sex, dueling suitors and haughty English folk. Yet, not only does the movie sparkle in unexpected, laugh-riot moments, Renee Zellweger proves yet again what a stunning actress she's become. In the title role, she's silly and coy, at once vapid and brilliant, a heroine for our generation. Hugh Grant is slimy-sleazy as her boss, a real departure from his "Four Weddings and a Funeral" Jimmy STewart-ish character. And, Colin Firth excels as an unlikable suitor who in the end hooks Bridget with intelligence, heroism and a deep warmth that is rarely allowed to shine (ultimately it's Bridget who brings him out of his shell, while exchanging her own for a newer model!) Ever since "Jerry MaGuire" made her a star, Zellweger was dazzled in on screen roles like "Nurse Betty" and "One True Thing." This is an actress who is able to fully expose her character - warts and all. Where other actresses might shy away from brash, bold characters, Zellweger embraces them, and in the process, the audience falls in love. She has the sort of face that tells stories with small, seemingly unimportant facial expressions. A raised eyebrow here, a pursed lip there, she's able to convey layers of emotional context and depth that very few of her contemporaries can ever hope to achieve. Her spellbinding work opposite Meryl Streep in "One True Thing" is proof positive this star is here to stay - and deserves attention as quite possibly the best actress of today;s generation. Very few actresses could ever hope to shine opposite the legendary Streep, but Zellweger does that and more. In that film, and this one, she delivers a fully realized character, infusing Bridget with wit, charm, charisma, and more than anything - REALNESS. Ultimately, that's the best thing about this movie - the multiple levels Zellweger manages to pull off will allow even men to see parts of themselves through Bridget's eyes. Warm, lighthearted, but filled with detail and myriad emotions, "Bridget Jones' Diary" is a winner! Let's hope Zellweger finally cops an Oscar nomination (which she's deserved for other roles in "McGuire", "One True Thing" and "Betty"). At least her fellow actors know a brilliant performer when they see one - as she's been nominated for a Best Actress SAG Award (over Nicole Kidman who was thought of as a shoo in for "Moulin Rouge.") In a nutshell, this is a fun, entertaining movie, with great music, endearing moments of comedy, and another SHINING performance by Zellweger!
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