Review of Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) by Markb. — 05 Jan 2006

A failed attempt to recreate the fizz of 2000's charming and entertaining Bridget Jones' Diary that follows the all-too-typically-followed path also trodden by such sequels as Barbershop 2: Back in Business and Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde: let's give 'em More Of The Same, only to prove again that more is less.

Unlike the Reese Witherspoon and Ice Cube second go-rounds, you can't totally make the criticism that Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason is an UNNECESSARY sequel; Helen Fielding, the author of the book on which the original was baseddid indeed write a followup, but the adapters seemed about as interested in following Fielding's plotline as they were in following that of James Joyce's Ulysses.

Even so, the original ended perfectly and organically with insecure-in-love-work-and-everything-else Bridget dumping Mr. Wrong, embracing Mr. Right and finding True Love At Last. As played so endearingly by Renee Zellweger in the original, Bridget (a British lass whose rough American equivalent is the comic strip character Cathy) was both hilariouly awkward AND tremendously empathy-inducing; you laughed at her multiple faux pas but also felt hugely protective of her and had a real rooting interest in her well-being.