Once on the slopes, she learns Rebecca recommended the vacation spot to Mark. Later in the night, Mark asks Bridget if she'd like to go on a ski holiday in Vorarlberg, Austria. Mark goes to Bridget's apartment, apologizes, and tells her he loves her for the first time. Bridget is delighted to be asked by Mark to go to the "Law Council Dinner", assuming he will propose afterwards, but because balding Tories quietly take offense at her ad hominem claim that depriving the poor of welfare is something advocated by balding Tories, the night does not end well.Īfter the "Law Council Dinner", Mark and Bridget have an argument and she walks away from him. Bridget initially refuses, quoting that Daniel Cleaver is a "deceitful, sexist, disgusting specimen of humanity". Bridget meets her ex, Daniel Cleaver ( Hugh Grant), at her job for Sit-Up Britain and is offered a position as the "Smooth Guidess". However, Bridget's confidence in her relationship is shattered when she meets Mark's colleague, the beautiful Rebecca Gilles ( Jacinda Barrett). Bridget ( Renée Zellweger) is ecstatic about her relationship with Mark Darcy ( Colin Firth). Maybe that's being picky, but that's the level of satisfaction Bridget Jones's original incarnation has engendered.The film begins shortly before Bridget's mother's ( Gemma Jones) annual Turkey Curry Buffet. In addition, there was an absence of really funny situations without seeming to be contrived. Perhaps the biggest problem with this film is that it is a chore to find anything truly engaging or to feel any sympathy and concern for Zellweger's character. Just one of his story lines in Love Actually is as good as or better than anything in Edge of Reason. Where is original director, Sharon Maguire? Maybe frequent scribe Richard Curtis would have been perfect. The direction is not as crisp as before-this time Beeban Kidron(Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar) takes the helm in not quite inspired fashion. There are no real surprises here in the story even though it contains a couple of mild shocks in plot line. While the screenplay has some nice bits of dialogue and one-liners, the whole thing just doesn't come together as a satisfying whole. You will recognize returning supporting characters from before including James Broadbent as Bridget's dad, a role that is minimal at best.
Firth, who was handpicked by author Fielding, duplicates his steady, straightlaced lawyer while Grant spices the sexual scenery with his bad boy ways. Fans may be a bit startled to see her appearance after a few years of terrific performances in slimmed down roles. Zellweger is always appealing even as an overweight, accident-prone romantic. There are a few other minor story threads such as Bridget's parents getting remarried, but they are few and far between.
That pretty well sums up the main storyline. Enter handsome Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant is as dashing as ever) who wants to rekindle an earlier romance with Bridget who wonders if he has mended his philandering ways.
Slowly, our Bridget notices a young female clinging to her man on a regular basis, and with life full of its insecurities, doubts and suspicions are thus born. Not a couple months have passed as our favorite British journalist (played with gusto by Renee Zellweger) is dating her dream beau, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth returns as a noble steed). No Oscar nominations are forthcoming this time. While entertaining in its own way and filled with enough charm and wit to keep things moving and interesting, it is a step down for the Helen Fielding heroine. Oh the expectations are high and the studio is bumping up the release date but what about the film? In the case of Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, it was inevitable that the freshness and sheer pleasure of a funny, heartfelt love story of Bridget Jones's Diary, would be a hard act to top much less follow.