Bridget Jones's Diary

Click title above for IMDb info about this movie

Bridget Jones' Diary is shown on television every now and again. I certainly hope they continue to show it. There are always new "fans" and repeat "fans" to make it worthwhile.

As romantic comedies go it's one of the classier ones. It's cute and well done. I think people of all ages are able to appreciate it, watch it over and over with as much enjoyment as the first time they saw it. The story line is good, though I think we all know true love doesn't really happen that fast with as little basis the movies show us.

It starred Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth. The movie came out in 2001 when Hugh and Colin were both 40 years old. Everyone spoke with British accents including Rene who is, as far as I know, not British, so I assume it was a British movie. (And I have no idea how old she was or is.)

I was musing the other day that even Colin Firth himself has been cursed with the responsibility of all motion picture stars, that of having to do at least one romantic comedy in their lives if they want to further their careers.

I suspect part of the reason is that audiences LOVE romantic comedies, even the sappy ones, regardless what the critics think of them. A good or even so-so romantic comedy can put you on the map and grant you hundreds of die-hard fans forever.

Colin Firth is rather the stiff-upper-lift type of Englishman. He is able to convey a well-rounded character while showing little emotion, just a well placed, intelligent comment. One would hope he gets a role in which he can smile for a change.

Hugh Grant is a bit more silly in his roles even when he is revealed to have a serious or mature side. He plays the attractive, smooth-talking bad-boy
in Diary. Actually he is the type of man I like both in movie roles and unfortunately in real life. He's good in this role without stealing the show away from everyone else.

In short, Renée is adorable, Colin is desirable, and Hugh is lovable. And the script, direction and editing were good.

I would like to see the sequel to Diary again mostly because I have only seen it once. In that one, if I recall correctly, Bridget makes the mistake of falling for the bad-boy's lies AGAIN (haven't we all done that?)but ends up with the sweetie after all.

Man, he's a forgiving guy. Are all British men like that? One would hope that all men were...but, you know, romance is fantasy after all.

Thanks to everyone for bringing this movie to the big screen and now a lot small ones. It's enjoyable.

Another thing, I have a feeling Matthew Goode probably hoped Leap Year would be a popular mainstream movie like Bridget Jones's Diary instead of just a regular romantic comedy. Maybe the critics didn't like Leap Year, and Matthew didn't either, but millions or at least thousands of people loved it. And Matthew, like I said before in this blog, all movies aren't Shakespeare or, in this case, Bridget Jones's Diary.