Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004): Dir: Beeban Kidron / Cast: Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, Jacinda Barrett: Worthwhile sequel to the 2001 masterpiece about behavior and communication. Setup addresses the aftermath of the first film addressing the relationship between journalist Jones and barrister Mark Darcy. She believes he is having an affair with a colleague, which results in many wayward situations that land her in hot water, particularly when she ends up in prison for a crime she did not commit. Structure isn't as tight but it is well directed by Beeban Kidron. Renee Zellweger is hilarious as Jones who often says and does things that warp her communication skills. Colin Firth is fine as Darcy who tries to understand Jones. It isn't difficult to see where this is all headed. Hugh Grant returns as Daniel Cleaver in attempts of continuing his sexual conquest with Jones however, his scrap with Darcy was funny the first time out. Here it is just a terrible repeat without the same level of comic payoff. Jim Broadbent as Jones's father isn't as broad this time out. Jacinda Barrett has the cardboard role as the woman whom Jones believes Darcy is involved with despite the fact that her facts are clogged. The film asks questions regarding what to do after you find true love and realize that forgiveness can happen even when you foil up beyond reason. Score: 6 ½ / 10

The first film has warmth, strong characters and a sense of heart. This sequel has none of these things and feels like a pointless sequel only produced to make money.It feels like a bunch of sketches strung together by a very weak plot which is worrying seeing as it is supposed to be based on a book. It has funny moments but even these feel rehashed and tired. Zellweger, Grant and Firth are all talented but even they cannot save this film from being the poor imitation of the first film.Sequels rarely work and this one is proof. It's perhaps worth watching once but certainly not worth wasting money on by the DVD. Save your money and watch the first film.

I am a big fan on the Bridget Jones films. The first and the second movie were amazing..Never a dull moment, there are definitely laugh out loud moments even watching it more then once.I nearly fell over the first time I saw the skiing segment and in the first movie Mr. Tits-pervert =) Directing and making movies its not an easy task although it may seem like it..Movies can never be like the book, so please..get over it.There is not one movie out there that is exactly like the book it portrays.I recommend this movie, there is no romantic comedy that I like better. British humor at its best, whimsical and fun all the way through. 10/10

It's very watchable so gets 4 stars but not as good as the earlier movie even though that wasn't particularly good.Hugh Grant is as brilliant as before as the caddish Wickham part, but Bridget is far more off the mark as the "Elizabeth" character even than she was in BJ's Diary. As for "Darcy", what on earth is he with this Bridget for? I doubt it's all Zellweger's fault even though I think she's totally miscast for the original very English wry humour of the newspaper Bridget - Zellweger simply can't do it. I can't understand why a British actress wasn't selected for this part or at least someone who could put over the humour as per British. But give Zellweger her due, she does try very hard and if I hadn't known the original BJ and Austen's P&P before it, she'd do as a different type of Bridget - a bit dim which Elizabeth and the original BJ weren't. No way, however, is this Bridget Elizabeth Bennet, but then the whole idea is that she isn't yet somehow the amazing Darcy adores her... There are some very funny sequences, especially out in Thailand and Zellweger's failure to be right for Bridget isn't a serious problem with the movie. The problem is why Darcy has ever fancied her in the first place - I'm not trying to insult this Bridget, just to point out that the relationship between these two characters is, as it was in the earlier movie, completely unrealistic. They are chalk and cheese! Possibly Firth is to blame for this - he is just too priggish and his whole lifestyle and career are so apart from hers that when he unbends to admit to wanting to be with/loving Bridget,it's not possible to believe him. Strange how this relationship fails because of the actors whilst Firth's excellent in a romantic theme in Love Actually. Bridget in this movie is even more embarrassing to stuffy Mark than she was in the first movie. It doesn't make sense that she makes a totally unnecessarily complete ass of herself in front of his clients time and again, and yet his career isn't suffering and he doesn't seem to mind! Whereas Hugh Grant as Daniel - brilliant! He always seems to know exactly how to put over a part. Is that he always acts the same part? I don't know or care, he's just riveting and so funny and charming on screen no matter what he acts in. Every time Bridget rejects him I wonder why as they are far better suited than her and that stuffy lawyer even though Daniel's a jerk! The theme of Daniel introducing cities/travel in his own womanising way is a very clever idea, I loved it. He'd make any travel ad thrilling! Bridget's experience with parachuting was scary. Neil Pearson is very amusing as her ruthlessly unsympathetic boss.One big surprise at the end is the girl who appears to be having an affair with Mark. What a brilliant twist! Marvellous! I never expected it for a moment. It lifted the movie's otherwise very ordinary ending!!