Film: Bridget Jones: Edge Of Reason

"It's not exactly Shakespeare is it?". It's likely that this phrase was repeated numerous times during the production of the apathetic re-tread that is the sequel to Bridget Jones Diary. Whilst the growth of Helen Fielding's neurotic heroine from newspaper column to Oscar nominated character is a heartening success story, the source material is clearly not considered sacrosanct by old rope peddling filmmakers.

Bridget Jones (Renee Zellweger) starts the film blissfully in love with totally perfect lawyer boyfriend Colin Darcy (Colin Firth). However to establish some type of story through some poorly executed and cliched set-pieces Bridget ends up alone and about to fall for caddish old flame Daniel (Hugh Grant). Will she end up with a man? Will she end up with the right man? Will anyone actually care by then?

Bridget Jones: Edge Of Reason is a poor film that brings to mind other financially motivated sequels such as Men In Black 2. The cast amble effectively through their roles with a grudging acceptance that all actors end up involved in films like this. Renee Zellweger manages to look unattractive, Colin Firth is dull as ditchwater and Hugh Grant layers on the charm smarm to provide the few memorable moments of comedy. The script requires less stretch from the cast than Pavorotti's wet-suit being worn by Kate Moss and the script adds to the view that the use of the word comedy in titling the romantic comedy genre is some kind of ironic joke.

There seems to have been so little effort put into the production of this film that you expect the credits to appear as a hand-written scrawl. There is simply no point in this film existing. However many times you have seen the original film you will still find it fresher, funnier and more engaging than this twaddle.