Bridget Jones - Edge of Reason
One thing you can be sure of, is that buying into hype doesn't do you any favours. There are very few comedy narratives which survive resurrection, and in a lot of cases the original is marred by the newer commercially backed sequel. In Bridget Jones, The Edge of Reason, an example of this is practically impossible to miss. Yes, there are some nice moments - but in reality that's all they....
One thing you can be sure of, is that buying into hype doesn't do you any favours. There are very few comedy narratives which survive resurrection, and in a lot of cases the original is marred by the newer commercially backed sequel. In Bridget Jones, The Edge of Reason, an example of this is practically impossible to miss. Yes, there are some nice moments - but in reality that's all they are. And yes, there is a very good soundtrack. Again, that's all it is. Personally, I don't think the tying in of these two features a movie makes.
The film starts promisingly with Colin Firth appearing in a ludicrous jumper, which compliments Bridgets nicely. This, apparently according to my research, was how the original film ended three - no, four years ago. OK, then it's six weeks down the line and she's in what is apparently 'girlie nirvana'. Long term plans a foot, dreaming of nothing since all her dreams have now come true. However, the relationship she is in is with a successful lawyer. She's out of her depth and increasingly sensitive to it. Enter Hugh Grant, Thailand, Balls, Pregnancy kits, Jeremy Paxman, various unclothed young men, magic mushrooms, bad advice, magical sunsets and, well, you know the score. There are some nice moments, but it is smaltzy, and personally I think there is a problem with the story dynamic; I don't think the interesting moments or the direction really enthral the viewer.
I have to be honest though, there is one shot which is frankly fantastic. Bridget is looking at of her flat window at one point in the film and the camera pans out, across London, and you can see couples everywhere, through every window in an increasing panorama, underscoring the loneliness of the Bridget character. This shot is well worth seeing. And it pans right across London and lands on Colin Forth at the other side of London walking down the street with the same thoughts. It is a classic shot.
I didn't see the original; however, I wouldn't mind betting it's much the same as this. As long as you don't expect too much, it delivers. There is nothing wrong with the acting, the direction of film as a whole unit, but it does leave you with the feeling that there is something lacking and more could have been done to draw you in. The sort of girl who Bridget represented I think has now vanished, or at least is much less overtly ditzy. However, it is an optimistic watch. The Jones character goes through a great deal of trials and ordeals but maintains an essential optimism. I don't know if this is the problem with the film or not; although paranoia and despair are touched on, they are very short lived. The scene in the prison is something that, really, is very poorly constructed.
The DVD itself is a work of art. Increasingly there is a trend towards flashy and nicely orchestrated menus, sub menus and extras. The menu is a nice, smooth load, with easy to use features, and plenty of them. There are plenty of extras. Either for the Hugh Grant character, the Colin Firth character or Bridget. And it's not just your usual fare of cobbled together stuff not good enough to go in, it's actually interesting things. Shots which in themselves are interesting, but really didn't fit in the film too well and were cut. How certain things were story boarded and discarded. All in all, although I found the film lacking, I enjoyed it. It's not the sort of film you can watch over and over again, but it does have a harmless quality about it.
Not built to last, but then not meant to. Jolly fare, though it would be a matter of descretion as to who I would recommend it to.
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