Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason

Dir: Beeban Kidron

2004

*

I disliked 2001's Bridget Jones's Diary quite a bit but I detest it's follow up: Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. Helen Fielding had much success with her 1996 novel, so continuing the story was a given, as was the film adaptation (the first film was made after the second novel). I'm not alone either, critics panned Beeban Kidron's sequel, the film did well financially as all follow up films to popular movies do but neither book nor film followed for a long time. It was clear that Fielding's luck was up. I believe this is due to it being clear to even the densest of film goers that she didn't have an original bone in her body. The second film is pretty much a carbon copy of the first film, by all means play the hits but don't force feed the fans the same crap. I disliked everything, from the horrible poster that sees Renée Zellweger pouting like an over inflated sex doll to the fact that Fielding used Sandra Gregory's story without her consent (Gregory was imprisoned in a Thai Prison as Bridget is in the film, Fielding knew the next door neighbours of Gregory's parents and used her story through the power of gossip). It became less and less obvious who this film was actually meant for and somehow, even though everyone pretty much hated it, it was nominated for loads of awards. I argue that the film industry really lost its way in the early 00s. Beeban Kidron was an odd choice of director, she brings nothing special to the story and it's odd that a documentarian like her would be attached (although I loved her TV series Oranges are Not the Only Fruit). Colin Firth and Hugh Grant lower themselves even further and even though I can still think of several actors who could have played Bridget better, I'm now really glad they didn't. The whole story is contrived and tired, we've seen it all before and it isn't interesting to anyone. The whole film seems to revolve around Bridget finding love (with the person she's already found it with) and having clumsy accidents. Her and her friends are also tired stereotypes, I don't know anyone in the mid-thirties that could take any of it seriously and I can only guess that it only appeals to adolescent girls, it certainly doesn't seem to push anyone else's buttons.