All the familiar players return as this sequel takes up a mere six weeks after the end of “Bridget Jones’s Diary.” Bridget’s ensconced in a relationship with lawyer Mark Darcy (Firth). She’s so happy to have Mark by her side and in her bed, she can’t stop looking at him – even while he’s trying to sleep – which sets up a running joke about her staring. But even as happy as she appears to be, Bridget can’t just let things progress normally. This is Bridget Jones, the woman who is hopelessly incapable of enjoying the moment, so there’s no way the story will simply have an “And they lived happily ever after” ending. Jealousy rears its ugly head. All of her old feelings of self-doubt, which are never far from the surface, cause her to act irrationally and make mountains out of mole hills.
Alternately wanting an engagement and wanting to break off the whole thing, Bridget ricochets from the highs of happiness to the highs of magic mushrooms (yes, I’m serious) to the low of becoming involved again with that cad, Daniel Cleaver (Grant). So who will she choose? As long as there’s a goofy fist-fight onscreen between Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, does it really even matter?
The sequel’s not quite as good as the original, but very few films manage to pull off that trick. This film does go off on a weird tangent involving a Thai prison, drug smuggling, and a strange dance routine set to a Madonna tune that’s downright bizarre. It’s such a strange little twist to the film that it comes close to throwing the whole thing off kilter. Fortunately, because we’ve really come to know and like these characters, “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” manages to survive a plot twist that would have sank many other comedies.
Watching “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” is like slipping on your comfy clothes when you get off work. Familiar, funny, and a cute fluffball of a movie, “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” is a nice chance to renew acquaintances with some old friends.
GRADE: B
"Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" was directed by Beeban Kidron and is rated R for language and some sexual content.
