Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason Review
by Laura Clifford (laura AT reelingreviews DOT com)November 17th, 2004
BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON
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Six weeks after we left our heroine happily held in the embrace of blueblood love Mark Darcy (Colin Firth, "Love Actually"), insecurities and the reappearance of caddish ex-boss Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant, "Love Actually") put our pleasantly plump "Bridget Jones" at "The Edge of Reason."
This limp sequel entertains for perhaps 20% of its 108 minute running time - whenever Hugh Grant is on screen and a couple of Bridget scenarios - one dealing with skis, the other with magic mushrooms and Thai prostitutes. Otherwise, screenwriter Andrew Davies ("Bridget Jones' Diary") and novel author Helen Fielding have turned Bridget (Renée Zellweger) into a clinging embarrassment and the marvelous Colin Firth's Darcy into a parental figure who swings wildly from disapproval to over indulgence. Only the sublimely snakey Grant emerges unscathed.
The film begins promisingly as Bridget relates her seventy-one ecstatic shags with the human rights lawyer who reassures her that he adores her 'wobbly bits,' but quickly descends into a series of awful missteps. Bridget's 'friends' Shazzer (sally Phillips), Tom (James Callis) and Jude (Shirley Henderson) seem intent on kiboshing her relationship, as does Bridget herself - she's become the type who calls and drops in on her lover incessantly. A new colleague of Darcy's, pretty young Rebecca (Jacinda Barrett, "Ladder 49"), is perceived as a rival and when Bridget finally pushes Darcy hard enough that he fails to once again smooth everything over, she dumps him...just in time to be given a job pairing up with Daniel Cleaver (Grant) on a television travel show. First stop - Thailand, with plenty of 'big panties' packed.
Director Beeban Kidron ("To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar") brings nothing new to Bridget's world. Physical comedy is well staged, although Bridget is, of course, framed in the most unflattering light. One bit of klutzy Zellweger that works involves an amateur trip down a competitive ski run - Bridget looks no more padded than anyone else and her bright pink suit and silly hat are actually endearing. A pantomime she performs after whooshing into a pharmacy in quest of a pregnancy kit is priceless, as is her coordination of a group of Thai prostitutes' rendition of "Like a Virgin" (multiple Madonna references throughout suggest Madge's celebrity shines brighter in her adopted homeland). Although it is yet another retread from the first film, a fight between Darcy and Cleaver is funny indeed, neither personality being exactly adept at fisticuffs.
Of course, Bridget once again prevails at film's end with yet another unlikely conquest, but this time her good fortune feels far less well earned. As the heroine's author has done her a disservice this time around, hopefully the producers will choose new screenwriters with an original screenplay for the obvious next go-round, "Bridget Jones' Wedding."
C-
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