Plot
Based on author Helen Fielding's sequel to Bridget Jones's Diary, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason picks up four weeks after the original film left off, with Bridget (Renée Zellweger) emotionally satisfied at long last with Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), her barrister boyfriend. Stability in Bridget's life, however, quickly becomes a contradiction in terms. Though Mark is openly supportive of Bridget's eccentricities -- and there are many -- she is nonetheless threatened by Mark's young, nubile intern, not to mention irked at finding out that he is, among other less desirable qualities in her eyes, a conservative voter. Complicating issues further is the reentrance of her ex-lover, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), whom Jones, perhaps mistakenly, thought she had finally gotten over. Before long, the situation escalates into another series of embarrassing circumstances for Bridget, who is faced once again with a crippling feeling of self-doubt and has only her diary and friends to combat it. ~ Tracie Cooper, RoviReview
Helen Fielding had the sense to be self-deprecating in the title of her second Bridget Jones novel, and director Beeban Kidron considers that her license to concoct a film that's altogether unreasonable indeed. Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason once again makes hay of the title character's tendency to go fanny up, flogging the slapstick until it's as wet as Renée Zellweger after repeated puddle drenchings. Zellweger gamely regained the pounds for another go-around, but the audience was less eager this time, leaving the film lost in the 2004 holiday shuffle. The embarrassments heaped upon Jones have taken on a perfunctory quality by this second installment. She continually finds herself stammering in front of Darcy's coterie of international dignitaries, and when the out-of-control Jones haplessly skis into the midst of a professional downhill race, it's hack-level stuff. However, there is a point at which the absurdity (a bizarre second-act plot twist that shouldn't be ruined) goes to such lengths, the joke seems intentional, enough for the film to rebound toward something more sublime. Colin Firth and Hugh Grant again play the candidates for Bridget's affections, though Firth's character is so stiff and unsmiling, the audience almost roots for Grant's lothario to win their inevitable tussle in a public fountain. ~ Derek Armstrong, RoviCast
- Renée Zellweger - Bridget Jones
- Hugh Grant - Daniel Cleaver
- Colin Firth - Mark Darcy
- Jim Broadbent - Bridget's Dad
- Gemma Jones - Bridget's Mum
Credit
Paul Inglis - Art Director, David Warren - Supervising Art Director, Michelle Guish - Casting, Stacy Mann - Casting, Jany Temime - Costume Designer, Richard Styles - First Assistant Director, Beeban Kidron - Director, Greg Hayden - Editor, Liza Chasin - Executive Producer, Debra Hayward - Executive Producer, Harry Gregson-Williams - Composer (Music Score), Nick Angel - Musical Direction/Supervision, Gemma Jackson - Production Designer, Adrian Biddle - Cinematographer, Tim Bevan - Producer, Eric Fellner - Producer, Jonathan Cavendish - Producer, Glenn Freemantle - Sound/Sound Designer, Simon Hayes - Sound/Sound Designer, Nick Foley - Sound/Sound Designer, Stuart Brisdon - Special Effects Supervisor, Adam Brooks - Screenwriter, Richard Curtis - Screenwriter, Andrew Davies - Screenwriter, Helen Fielding - Screenwriter, Jody Johnson - Visual Effects Supervisor, Stephen Barton - Additional Music, Double Negative Ltd. - Digital Effects, Helen Fielding - Book Author| Bridget Jones's Diary (2001 Film), Bridges and Tunnels (2003 Film) | |
| Bridget Riley (Film), Bridging the Gap (1985 Film) |
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