"Dear 'Diary'"
by Scott Mantz

"Bridget Jones's Diary"
Renee Zellweger,
Hugh Grant
Directed by Sharon Maguire

"Dear sir or madam, will you read my book?" Renee Zellweger is flanked by Colin Firth and Hugh Grant in "Bridget Jones's Diary"

Dear Diary,

Today is Saturday, March 17, and I just got back from having breakfast--alone. That was after last night, when I went to the movies--alone. Then I woke up this morning--you guessed it, alone. Well, I guess that's par for the course these days, since, even at the ripe old age of 32, I'm still a single guy.

Not that there's anything wrong with that (or so I keep telling myself), but I suppose things would have been a lot different if I had stayed in Philadelphia (my hometown), got married, had 2 1/2 kids, bought a house, and called it a day. But no, I had to take my chances, follow my heart, move out to LA, and try to make it in this crazy business called Hollywood. Well, I'm still working on that last part, but one thing's for sure--I never thought I'd still be single at 32.

While most of my friends are either involved, married with children, or heading for a divorce (probably the latter), my sad state of affairs was driven home last night when I attended a special advance screening of Renee Zellweger's new movie "Bridget Jones's Dairy." Not only did I really enjoy the film, but I actually related to it in the sickest possible way (and I'm a guy!). I also found Zellweger to be even more charming and adorable than she was in last year's little seen gem, "Nurse Betty." She easily puts to rest all the scrutiny that she was under when she signed up for the role of the chain-smoking, Vodka-drinking, weight-obsessed British heroine from Janet Fielding's enormously popular book of the same name.

Bridget Jones's (Renee Zellweger) life is a mess. She's overweight, she chain-smokes, she's a 32-year-old "singleton," and she likes to drink alone while singing "All By Myself" at the top of her lungs. But she's had it! She's going to turn her life around once and for all, and she starts by keeping a diary to keep track of all her New Year's resolutions. The first of them is to stop dating slimy men who only have their good-looks going for them, but before the ink is even dry on that one, she starts shagging her sexy, playboy boss (Hugh Grant) at the publishing firm where she works. Now she's caught in a bind--will she keep dipping her pen in the company ink, or will she go for an already involved barrister (Colin Firth) who keeps showing up at the most inopportune times? Talk about decisions, what's a neurotic, confused, scatterbrained British girl to do?

Think of "Bridget Jones's Diary" as a British version of TV's "Ally McBeal" (but not as skinny!). She may seem like she's out of her mind, but compared to everyone else, including her "smug-married" friends and dysfunctional parents, she's the one who's better off. Besides, why is it anyone else's business how her love life is doing? What's wrong with being picky and waiting for Prince Charming? Who cares what other people think? If anything, they're just jealous!

As Bridget, Renee Zellweger is simply irresistible. Hot on the heels of her Golden Globe-winning performance in "Nurse Betty," she gives another range revealing turn that capitalizes on her girl-next-door appeal. After raising eyebrows for being cast in a role that many in the British press felt should have gone to Emily Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, or Kate Winslet, Zellweger rises to the occasion, packs on the weight (almost 15 pounds), and puts to rest any fears that she couldn't carry the British accent (Kevin Costner, take note). In fact, if I didn't know any better, I would never have guessed that Zellweger was from Texas.

Hugh Grant is perfectly cast as Zellweger's too good-looking for his own good boss. He takes the sleazy role he played in last year's "Small Time Crooks" to the next level, and as a result, he seems to be having a blast. Colin Firth sulks through most of the film as Zellweger's other potential love interest, and despite being in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong person and saying the wrong thing, it's obvious that they were meant for each other.

My only problem with "Bridget Jones's Diary" is with the ending. Like last year's Mel Gibson starrer "What Women Want," it starts out strong and loses steam towards the end. While it stays true to the book, it still feels weak compared to what preceded it. Then again, Zellweger is so darn charming and funny, and after baring her soul (not to mention her expanded frame), it's hard not to be won over by her immensely appealing performance.

Given the nature of dating in this crazy town, it's easy to understand why I feel so hopeless. Then again, like Bridget Jones, I'm not willing to compromise and settle ("settle" being the key word) down with the wrong woman just to keep from feeling lonely. I may not drink, smoke, or be obsessed with my weight like Bridget is, but like her, I just want to be surrounded by people who like me for who I am. As for my love life, I just gotta be patient. It'll happen when it happens.

Well, Diary, I guess that's enough self-deprecation and over-analysis for one day! I'm outta here!

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