Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason

Now, you know full well before you even think about going to see it that Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason is not serious cinema. In fact, let's face it, it's a fag fest for fat girls, a babe fest for boyfriends accompanying girlfriends who have to go see to keep up with the gossip circle. It's "a romp" in the cheesiest sense of the word with standard gags pulled off with grand style, plus the Peruvian Ambassador thrown in for good measure. Can you see what it is yet? Are you getting the picture? Well done.

But wait, what's this? Good camerawork? Expensive locations? Great characters? Well, yes actually. Production values are clearly higher in this, part two of Bridget Jones's Diary. There is a plot - Bridget (Renee Zellweger, of course, with that fantastic accent) is imprisoned for smuggling drugs in Thailand and her hero, Mark (Colin Firth - smoulder) comes to the rescue, although our victim is managing perfectly well in jail by clever management of her bra, thank you very much.

Bridget gets to this unfortunate juncture while building herself a somewhat implausible career in serious journalism (not). She is still the neurotic singleton from the first film - an extreme example of how not to live alone. The character's exasperating inability to handle her own love life (don't yer jus' wanna shake her up!?) is unrewarding - you just know what's going to happen. How can Bridget be such a wimp? You can almost not like her. Cameo roles, however, push the film's rating up and her frightening, mad mother (Gemma Jones) and suffering-in-lavender father (Jim Broadbent) have some perfect moments.

Hugh Grant is terrific, as the caddish and cowardly Daniel - I liked him and found myself secretly wishing to emulate his success, with women, at least - ooops! The dénouement seems to leave Firth typecast and doomed to be in films, where someone ends up in something wet, made of cotton, courtesy of puddles and lorries this time. He does look a wee bit scrawny - sharp faced, but so definitely hunky. The apparently predatory Rebecca, played by the lovely and willowy Jacinda Barrett, competes for Mark's affections, but delivers us a nice googly at the end, a reward, some would say, for sitting through the film with your woman!

Bridget Jones seems to be playing herself and Zellweger's skill in achieving this has to be admired, despite the overall frivolity of the script. The film is a safe choice for most age groups, though there's lots of effing and several gratutious, though cinematically appropriate, remarks of a sexual nature. However, that's only to be expected as such language seems to be Grant's trademark.

An ideal film for romancing, or sharing with your girly mates, BJ2 gets a healthy 3.5 star rating, but scores 10 out of 10 for enjoyability.