Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason

Ugh. The worst kind of sequel is one that doesn't do anything different from its predecessor. One that uses the same gags, in the same order, with exactly the same cast of characters. (Sub- supporting characters notwithstanding.) This film has all those things, and if you like your films with no surprises, go see this one. It's got all the original stuff: the jealousy, Hugh Grant messing up the works, the enormous panties, the fist fight, etc., etc. Of course, this one does have the Thai prison in it, but it's treated so differently from its presence in the book (where it was clear that it actually was a hardship) as to be faintly embarrassing to those of us who've read it. The filmmakers seem to be trying to stuff Renée Zellweger's derriere into tighter and tighter dresses, all merely for the giggle effect, which is simply boring. Zellweger's character also seems to wobble more than in the original between being a woman with a firm grasp of what she wants and a gibbering idiot. I just would have preferred a different cinematic approach (if you can use the word cinematic in this review without getting thrown out of the Amateur Reviewers Club). I would recommend reading the book instead -- it's funny, fresh, and weirder than the first in parts, in other words much more fun that this snorer.

year: 2004
length: 108 min.
rating: 1.5
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317198/combined