I could write a basic synopsis for 99.9% of all the romantic comedies ever made quite easily: two people who are absolutely perfect for each other meet and hate each other. They then slowly realize that they are really soul mates and become really happy, and them demonstrate their happiness by having sex. Their bliss is thwarted by some misunderstanding and their dreams are dashed. They eventually figure out what really happened and make up and get married, or become engaged, or at least there is some implication that they will be together forever.
Bridget Jones's Diary looks to be suspiciously close to this formula at its opening, and indeed, the first twenty minuets or so are close to what you would expect. Even at that point, my cute sensors, usually only activated in the presence of a certain overweight feline or my Shetland Sheepdog, were aroused at the presence of Renee Zellweger in the title role. Not only is Zellweger cute, she is close to the essence of cute. I am not sure she is capable of not being cute.
Zellweger is a pleasure to watch as Bridget, a slightly overweight Brit in her early thirties. She lives a lonely life and feels that she is becoming past her prime. We like Bridget, who is sort of a female, British version of Ernest Borgnine's Marty, but even more likable and not quiet as sad. Or at least, the movie doesn't want us to think so. Just as Marty would be a great husband but is totally unable to meet anyone, Bridget is trapped by the fact that she is painfully honest, sometimes inappropatley so. If this had been a standard movie, she would meet an unattractive (by movie standards) guy and they would draw each other out of their respective shells, but instead she meets a hunk played by Hugh Grant? Jackpot? Well, not really, but that's what makes this movie so good. It takes a fantasy and turns it on its head, showing that it's still sometimes just a fantasy.
I suppose I have made the movie sound more serious that it is. Although it does have a dose of reality in it, the movie is very light, and at times humorous and always pleasant. Zellweger received an Oscar nomination for her performance, and she deserved it- although she exudes charm, she is not content to leave the performance at a Meg Ryan level and goes deeper (She lost to Halle Berry in Monster's Ball).
It's actually kind of hard to watch her trials and tribulations, as we want her to be happy and find the man that she deserves very badly. The movie's main problem is the fact that it is still tied a bit too much in the standard romantic comedy vein. There are too many pop songs on the soundtrack, and Bridget's friends are, like virtually all friends in this type of movie, underwritten to the point that they seem like Bridget's groupies. But overall, this is a kind of wonderful movie that is a pleasant surprise. Their must be just as many Bridget Joneses as there are Marty Pilatti's, and here's hoping they all find the people they deserve.
Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)