Movie Review: Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001)

Resolution #1: Uggg – will obviously lose 20 lbs. #2: Always put last night’s panties in the laundry basket. Equally important: will find nice sensible boyfriend and stop forming romantic attachments to any of the following: alcoholics, workaholics, sexaholics, commitment-phobics, peeping toms, megalomaniacs, emotional fuckwits, or perverts. Will especially stop fantasizing about a particular person who embodies all these things.

Plot: A British woman is determined to improve herself while she looks for love in a year in which she keeps a personal diary.

Rating: 7/10

I recently read the book, and enjoyed it very much. I have seen the movie, ages ago, and had to watch it again to check if it was a proper book adaption.

It was just as funny as I had remembered. It is witty, funny and I really feel like Bridget Jones goes through realistic shit in her life that all 20/30 somethings eventually go through. I think Renee Zellweger was a perfect choice to play Bridget Jones. She is awkward, very British (I loved that) and has so many quirks that you just want to be her friend and help her. She is simply hilarious in all her mistakes and I loved the attitude she knew how to throw at exactly the right time, how she had a limit of what she would take from people and how she let you knew you had finally pissed her off.

I love the inclusion of Colin Firth and Hugh Grant – they are both mentioned in the book so it is great that they were cast as their respective characters. Hugh Grant was delightful as Daniel Cleaver. He is great to cast if you need to cast someone for a smarmy character. Daniel Cleaver was one of those men you wanted but really already knew it would be a bad idea in the end.

Mr. Darcy: “I realize that when I met you at the turkey curry buffet, I was unforgivably rude, and wearing a reindeer jumper.”

I think the only things more British than Colin Firth is Benedict Cumberbatch and Queen Elizabeth. He as Darcy was excellent – awkward, socially stunted and not really attuned to his feelings or how to express what he wanted to say in the correct way. I really would have liked to see more on how he changed in Bridget’s eyes – the movie makes it seem more like he was her only other option rather than she genuinely started noticing who he was.

I am a bit disappointed with the adaption though. While it is an excellent movie, the first half of the movie was loyal whereas the second half deviated completely. I would have loved if they had kept the end of the story exactly like it was, as well as the proper development of Mark Darcy’s character. The movie does not make you fully understand who this man is and the goodness to him, even though he is blunt and always says the wrong thing.

Overall, a good, light and funny movie, but not a good book adaption.

February 3, 2015February 1, 2015 by Natasha Categories: Movies, ReviewsTags: Bridget Jones’ diary, Colin Firth, Helen Fields, Hugh Grant, Movies, Renee Zellweger, Reviews 12 Comments

Book Review: Bridget Jones’s Diary (Helen Fields)

Plot:

Bridget Jones is on the verge of thirty. She has the normal issues: weight, work, her relationship status and her worries that all her vices are addictions and that she is in trouble. She is also faced with the decimation of her parents’ marriage, and her mother’s midlife crisis. After yet another Christmas nightmare of being bombarded with “when are you getting married?” and “your biological clock is ticking”, Bridget decides to change her life by losing weight, becoming glamorous and getting a man. Her delicious boss starts taking notice of her, and a relationship develops, but Daniel is also a man affected by the “fuckwittage” Bridget and her friends witness in London – men in their thirties completely mind fucking the ladies and the women just taking it as it comes. Although she takes him on about it, he still messes with her and she is eventually heartbroken when she finds him with a skinny, gorgeous girl, cheating on her.

Bridget still has to deal with Mark Darcy, the man her mother wants to hook her up with. Determined to dislike him on principle, she is soon confused by Mark – although he acts very odd sometimes he also has a kind nature about some things. He obviously dislikes even the mention of Daniel, and Bridget struggles to understand why.

Can Bridget sort out her life? Why does Mark dislike Daniel so strongly? Who will Bridget end up with, if she ever manages a relationship?

Rating: 7/10

I chose this book at my favorite second hand book shop for one reason: I needed something light and fluffy to read on the beach. Well, it was a successful choice because it certainly was light and fluffy, and hilarious as well. I really laughed out loud at a few places and had some much needed giggles while I associated with Bridget. I think most twenty somethings will find something in Bridget they associate with – she is obsessed with her weight, neurotic about her love life and constantly finds new addictions or things to obsess about. Her life doesn’t make sense, she is surrounded by a balanced mixture of horrible people and true friends. Bridget messes up constantly, she’s insecure but still determined to somehow make something work, and she’s not giving up. Her very embarrassing and awkward life makes her immediately identifiable, and I really understand why this book became an instant hit.

I loved the character a whole lot and will definitely read this again. The book is well written and very easy to read, but you must be willing to adapt to the whole diary format the book is written in. I am planning to watch the movie again soon, to see if it is a good adaption.

Recommendation: Light and fun, for those who needs a happy book.

December 10, 2014 by Natasha Categories: Books, ReviewsTags: Books, Bridget Jones, Helen Fields, Mark Darcy, Reviews 7 Comments