Kate Russell reviews
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
Same Bridget. Brand new diary.
Distributed by
This DVD:
Bridget Jones 1 & 2:
- Cert:
- Cat.no: 8231064
- Running time: 104 minutes
- Year: 2004
- Pressing: 2005
- Region(s): 2, 4 (UK PAL)
- Chapters: 17 plus extras
- Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
- Languages: English
- Subtitles: English
- Widescreen: 2.35:1
- 16:9-enhanced: Yes
- Macrovision: Yes
- Disc Format: DVD 9
- Price: £24.99
- Extras:
4 deleted scenes (with director’s introduction), The mini-break to Austria: Renée does her own stunts,
Audio commentary with director Beeban Kidron, The Big Fight: Mark and Daniel at it again!,
'Who's your Ideal Man – Mark or Daniel?' hilarious interactive quiz type thingy, Bridget interviews the
real-life Colin Firth (with director’s introduction), Mark and Bridget: Forever? Lonely London.
Director:
(Antonia and Jane, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Hookers Hustlers Pimps and Their Jones, Swept From the Sea, To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, Used People, Vroom, TV: Alexei Sayle's 'Itch, Murder,
Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit)
Producers:
Tim Bevan, Jonathan Cavendish and Eric Fellner
Screenplay:
Andrew Davies, Helen Fielding and Richard Curtis
(based on the novel by Helen Fielding)
Original Score :
Cast :
Jason Bourne: Matt Damon
Marie Kreutz: Franka Potente
Ward Abbott: Brian Cox
Pamela Landy: Joan Allen
Kirill: Karl Urban
Nicolette: Julia Stiles
Jarda: Marton Csokas
Danny Zorn: Gabriel Mann
Yuri Gretkov: Karel Roden
John Nevins: Tim Griffin
Irena Neski: Oksana Akinshina
Conklin: Chris Cooper (uncredited)
I first met Bridget Jones when my mother brought me a copy
of the first book shortly after it came out..
Like most single 30-somethings, I could relate to the character in the book,
and it was a pleasant surprise to see how well Renee Zellweger managed to
translate this onto the silver screen - something that most filmmakers seem
hard-pushed to do it seems. So it'll come as no surprise to learn that I was
delighted when Dom asked me to review this particular DVD. Especially as
following a sequence of Bridget-esque coincidences/disasters, I failed to make
the big night out with all my girlfriends to go and see it in Leicester Square.
I never did make it out to the cinema to see Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason - it seemed somehow sad to
go and see it alone…
I have to say though, I’m glad I didn’t see it in the cinema. As a home view
DVD, BJ:EoR is a great nights’ entertainment. I thoroughly enjoyed about 80%
of it - weeping and laughing at all the appropriate moments. And it's genuinely
funny sometimes too, so any of you non-rom-com fans who have to watch it out
of duty to your partner/mate will not have to suffer too much. But it wasn't
anywhere near as good as the first one, and if I'd forked out £15 for
all the trappings that go along with a visit to the Odeon Leicester Sq, I
think I’d have felt a little short changed on the night.
Like the first film, the plot whips along nice and brusquely, peppered with
hilariously funny but cringe-worthy moments as Bridget blunders her way
through life in the city. Now hooked up with the nice Mr Darcy, Bridget's
diary begins identically to the first movie. And I mean identically - almost.
The opening sequence will look familiar to die-hard Bridget fans, because it
is the exact same scene that opens the first movie (according to the director's
commentary in one of the extras - I wasn't that big a fan to notice I'm afraid).
The only difference is that this time Bridget is wearing a skirt - a masterpiece
of digital trickery that involved swathes of blue cloth and far too many
man-hours - and, she has brought along her beau, the dashing Mr D.
As the plot unfolds we see all the familiar faces from the first film -
including an inspired performance from Hugh Grant, who in my opinion
plays a much better loveable rogue than he does a foppish gentleman. There is
the obligatory romantic triangle, the obligatory lovers tiff, and the
obligatory wimpish fisty-cuffs between the men in Bridget's life. And I
enjoyed it - it’s not a classic, or a keeper unless you’re really a BJ fanatic -
but I enjoyed it just the same.
Having said all this though, I do have one major criticism, which stopped me
from fully enjoying this feel good movie. I found Renee Zellweger overplayed
her character at times. With the po-faced English rose accent and cartoonish
sequences (and I'm sorry, nobody that wooden on screen would EVER make a network
news reporter), her performance jarred at times with the other actors, and
made me remember I was watching a film.
I know the whole thing is supposed to be highly stylised, but there's a
difference between good character acting and playing a role. This is probably
more to do with direction than anything else, as when Renee gets it right,
she gets is so right - like in the brilliant love scenes between her and Hugh
Grant in Thailand.
On the whole though, I'd say if you like romantic comedies and there's nothing
better on the shelves, alongside a big tub of ice-cream and a box of tissues,
BJ:EoR will make a very satisfactory night in. Furry slippers and face packs
are optional.
Regarding the extras, there was a good selection split into three sections
headed by the three main characters. About 75% of them were worth a watch,
the usual selection of behind the scenes stuff etc. I loved the fight scene
documentary in Hugh Grant's section - I love the idea that those two have
maintained such a rivalry off-screen too.
The other 25% I felt added nothing
(especially the fatuous love quiz in Hugh Grant's section, which was so
patronising I refused to answer even the first question on principle). The
director's commentary in one extra sounded like a justification for all the
minor faults I'd spotted along the way. Not very cool.
FILM
PICTURE QUALITY
SOUND QUALITY
EXTRAS
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Review copyright © Kate Russell, 2005.
