BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY

UK, 2001, 98 minutes, Colour.
Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, Gemma Jones, Sally Phillips, Shirley Henderson, James Callus, Embeth Davidtz, Honor Blackman.
Directed by Sharon Maguire.

Who is Bridget Jones? Is her diary a work of literature? And how do you make a film of a diary? According to many writers Bridget Jones represents a great many British women (and beyond the UK), especially those in their 30s who feel that at any time life might pass them by. The diary is the work of columnist Helen Fielding who, for several years, chronicled the hopes and the mishaps of Miss Jones. And the film? A piece of very light entertainment that reveals Miss Jones to us through the voiceover of her diary entries and in the form of American actress, Renee Zellwegger, doing a creditable English accent.

There are many films on release which are designated 'teen pics' for their intended adolescent audiences. They make reviewers feel old and want to use phrases like 'generation gap'. Then films like Bridget Jones's Diary come along with their intended appeal to the 'thirtysomethings' and the above forty reviewers tend to feel even older and realise that there are many generation gaps. And for older reviewers...!

On the surface level, this is a bittersweet romantic comedy. Bridget Jones has a good job (in a publishing house so she is something of a literate heroine) but no love interest and the fear that she might never get to a loving commitment. She drinks too much wine, smokes too much, swears too much (well, not as much as several of her friends). Then her boss starts to look at her, harass her, court her and it looks as though true love has arrived. Instead it's Hugh Grant playing a cad, who emerges as even more of a rotter as the film goes on. In the background is her childhood playmate, the stern successful barrister Mark Darcy (and it is Colin Firth as another Mr Darcy). She thinks he despises her but, in fact, he doesn't.

The response to the novel and to the film indicates that there are a number of women who know what Bridget Jones feels like. Despite appearances and the opportunities that seem to come along, she really has low self-esteem, opens her mouth unwisely and awkwardly, misjudges people and situations and has poor expectations for the future. If this is the case, there is a long way to go. On the other hand, a number of articles are suggesting that women are getting over their Bridget Jones' phase and achieving a new self-image and being successful wherever they put their mind to it.

This means that Bridget Jones's Diary is working at two levels. On the surface level, it looks like a daffy comedy to be enjoyed as a pleasant night out with the remark that it was realistic but exaggerated. On a deeper level (not profound but at a thoughtful level), the film is structured like a medieval morality play. There is Bridget in the middle, a 30something Everywoman. On one side of her is Hugh representing temptation and destruction. On the other is Colin representing true love and commitment. She has to choose.

So, in fact, the film is about the drive for love and commitment - anything else is doomed to disappointment. One can't disagree with that.

1. The popularity of the Bridget Jones Diary in the press, in novel form? Bridget Jones as an icon of the thirtysomethings of the '90s? The perceptions of women in their thirties, hopes, careers, expectations? The dashing of expectations?

2. The London and English countryside settings? The workplaces, the pubs, flats? Country homes? The seasons and the celebrations? The musical score? The range of songs used and their particular lyrics commenting on the action?

3. The original as a diary? The screenplay using voice over for diary form? The fleshing out of incidents? The dramatisation of a diary in performance?

4. Renee Zellweger as Bridget Jones? An American as an Englishwoman? Her appearance, concerned about her weight, drinking chardonnay, smoking too much, swearing too much? Her low self esteem? Her memories of her childhood, the dominance of her mother, her mother arranging dates? Her genial father? Her lack of relationships? Self image and self esteem? Her commentaries about her behaviour? The influence and support of her friends: of Shazza, Jude and Tom? Their meetings and discussions?

5. At her parent's Christmas party, dressed in a carpet, forced to meet Mark Darcy, her awkwardness, his harsh comments on her and hearing him? Her going back to London? At work, her comments on Daniel Cleaver? The preparation of the book launch? His sending her e mails, flirting, harassing her? Her response, going out, the beginning of the affair? Her believing that it was love? His not recognising his callous attitudes? His criticisms of Darcy at the launch?

6. The book launch, her awkwardness, the speech? The discussions with the authors, Salman Rushdie and the loo, Jeffrey Archer? Her feeling that she had made a fool of herself?

7. The continuation of the affair, going to the country for the weekend? Daniel going back? Bridget not receiving the message about the change of costume and her going in her bunny outfit? People's reactions? Mark and his comments? Natasha and her efficiency?

8. Bridget's mother and her phone calls, her leaving home, getting caught up with the television presenter, the affair, going on television and presenting the jewellery? Her father's desolation and comfort from Bridget? Her mother ringing, the disillusionment with Julian, his getting another presenter? The return home, her confession to her husband, the reconciliation? The effect on Bridget?

9. Her birthday party, her discussions with Mark? Her getting the job at the television studio, leaving Daniel and the speech against him? The support of the staff and her television interviews, the fire station and her sliding down the pole? People's reactions? Mark giving her the opportunity to interview the refugee and his wife? the success?

10. The birthday party, the friends, her confiding in them about Mark liking her as she was? The dinner, the blue soup, his helping her? The bond between them? Daniel turning up leading to the fight in the street? The revelation of the truth about Daniel and Mark's wife? Her apology for misjudging Mark?

11. The Christmas celebration, her return, the bond between the two? The announcement about his going to New York? Natasha going? His flight, her disappointment? His return, reading her diary, her dismay and chasing him in the street? His buying her another diary and a new start?

12. The contrast between the two men: Hugh Grant as the suave cad, his business, the affairs, Mark's wife, the woman from America, the final credits and the ironic comments about his relationships? The contrast with Mark, the barrister, the divorce, serious and stern, seeing Bridget in awkward situations, the truth about his attitude towards her, going to New York, the reading of the diary? The fight with Daniel?

13. The publishing office, the various members of the staff, attitudes towards Daniel, the book launch?

14. The television station, the boss and his lewd attitudes? Bridget making a success?

15. The family background, the characters of her mother and father, the neighbours? The snobbish neighbours and the party and the costumes?

16. The surface entertainment and bittersweet romantic comedy, the second level with the morality play with Bridget as Everywoman, the two men and the possibilities for her life, her desire for love and commitment?