Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

Theatrical Poster
Source: Wikipedia
Bridget Jones's Diary tells the story of one woman's struggle to avoid becoming an old-aged spinster.

Bridget Jones (Renee Zellweger) is getting to that age where she feels her life is going past her and she can't do anything about it. After an encounter with Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) leaves her reeling after he inadvertently reveals his true thoughts about her blabbermouth, she vows to keep a diary of her life to inspire her to change for better.

During this 'new' time, Bridget falls for her sleazy boss at the publishing firm - Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) - who appears to be stringing her along and her parents split up causing Bridget further disruption after her mother finds someone who she thinks is far more exciting.


Bridget Jones's Diary is a lesson in the mundane aspects of life. While the female audience will be empathising with Bridget's extreme problems, men will also be able to sympathise with Mark Darcy as someone who always appears to be trumped by a 'better man'. For those who have reached Bridget Jones' dreaded time of life, her parents will provide a couple who reach to provide valuable lessons in life.

Bridget Jones is the character that made Zellweger's career. Sure, she had parts in Me, Myself and Irene and 8 Seconds, but anyone who has seen Bridget Jones's Diary will remember Zellweger for having huge underwear and being on a downer about her life.

She is well aided by two very different men; Grant is thoroughly ingrained into all rom-coms from the 1990's and 2000's - usually playing a character that earns him girly crushes the world over while Firth is a man who prefers to flit between genres and was rewarded with an Academy Award for his role in The King's Speech.

As for the film, it is an example of how a romantic comedy should be made. Full of laughs, sadness and stupidity that will keep you entertained for an hour-and-a-half. The result? One of the defining films of a genre that is often poorly abused.

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