Bridget Jones' Diary was a loose, modern-day re-interpretation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Consider the source material, for a start. Perhaps my expectations for The Edge of Reason were unreasonably high. This leads to a bizarre rendition of "Like a Virgin." (If the producers had really wanted to go over the top, why not use Broadbent for this? His interpretation of the song, as presented in Moulin Rouge, is, after all, definitive.)
In addition to a lot of failed physical jokes, the movie does some strange things - like sticking Bridget in a Thai prison for about 10 minutes. Nothing about The Edge of Reason is perfect, least of all the timing. To be funny, pratfalls have to be perfectly timed. The film, helmed by Beeban Kidron (who previously directed the mediocre To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar and the bad Swept from the Sea), goes for obvious slapstick in place of the character-based humor favored by Bridget Jones' Diary director, Sharon Maguire. Character actors like Jim Broadbent and Gemma Jones (as Bridget's dad and mum) are short-changed - they have glorified cameos. Unfortunately, his screen time is no more than 25 minutes, and the running length of the movie is quadruple that. It's a delightful mix, and Grant plays the role to the hilt. Grant reprises the part of Daniel with the perfect mix of charm and oiliness. The only time the movie gains a pulse is when Hugh Grant is on screen. This time around, it would be charitable to call Zellweger's accent "uneven." And, although she gained back the pounds, she lost the knack of the accent. The performance is lazy this may be the least appealing work Zellweger has exhibited in a major role. The Bridget of Bridget Jones' Diary seemed like a real person this one is a caricature. Meanwhile, aside from superficialities (like the weight issue), Zellweger's Bridget Mark II doesn't bear much resemblance to Mark I.
He was delightful in both the Pride and Prejudice TV mini-series and Bridget Jones' Diary, but the intangible is missing. But the problem is, Firth's Darcy charisma is gone. Perhaps it's unfair to call Colin Firth's performance "muted," since one could argue that the whole point of his character is to be dialed down. And, this time, Bridget even gets to kiss another woman. But, never fear, "happily-ever-after" returns to save the day. So, as in the first, Daniel provides the romantic complications that threaten Bridget and Mark's relationship. After Bridget dumps Mark, who should be waiting for her but Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant)? It turns out that he wants at least one more night with the girl in the big underpants. Plus, when he says he has a very important question to ask her, it turns out not to be the question (something anyone who watches sit-coms will immediately realize). Darcy is messing around with his co-worker, Rebecca (Jacinda Barrett). Jealousy rears its ugly head, and Bridget is sure her perfect Mr. "Happily-ever-after" lasts about two months, then Bridget (Renée Zellweger) and Mark (Colin Firth) have an unfortunate falling-out. I laughed a lot more during Bridget Jones' Diary than during The Edge of Reason.
And the comedy is a couple of notches lower. While the situations seem familiar, the characters (with one exception) are muted echoes of their previous incarnations. The sense of déjà vu is incomplete, however.
In order to get viewers back into theaters for the second installment, the filmmakers are forced to replay large chunks of the first movie. Where can a story go from there? As it turns out, nowhere. It told the whole story, and ended with a "happily-ever-after" promise. Bridget Jones in a Thai prison? Who thought up that bit of absurdity?Īrguably, the real problem with The Edge of Reason is that Bridget Jones' Diary was designed as a stand-alone. On those rare occasions when The Edge of Reason isn't regurgitating material from Bridget Jones' Diary, it is taking ill-advised excursions into unfunny slapstick and sappy melodrama.
This has the feel of a movie that exists exclusively because its predecessor was a financial success. Sadly, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason isn't anywhere close to being that good. Bridget Jones' Diary was an unexpected delight: a witty, enjoyable trifle that touched the heart while tickling the funny bone.