Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)
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A self-described 'imperfect' woman attempts to turn her life around while navigating the attentions of two very different men.
The story
Bridget Jones is a 32-year-old single woman in London who keeps a diary to track her goals of quitting smoking, losing weight, and finding 'Mr. Right'. Her life becomes complicated when she finds herself caught between two men: her womanizing boss, Daniel Cleaver, and Mark Darcy, a childhood acquaintance who is perceived as arrogant and rude. As she navigates the social complexities of her life and a high-profile book launch, Bridget must decide which man is truly right for her while trying to manage her own personal growth and public image.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Bridget Jones, a woman struggling with her self-image, keeps a diary to improve her life. She works as a publicity assistant and finds herself in a complicated dynamic with her boss, Daniel Cleaver, and a stoic acquaintance, Mark Darcy. After a series of mishaps at a book launch and a weekend getaway, Bridget's relationship with Daniel sours when she discovers his infidelity. She eventually finds success in television and a closer connection with Mark. The story culminates at a wedding where the truth about the men's past friendship is revealed. After a series of misunderstandings and a literal chase through the snow, Bridget and Mark finally reconcile, while she rejects Daniel's late attempt to win her back.
- First release year
- 2001
- Runtime (minutes)
- 97
- Production countries
- France; Ireland; United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Sharon Maguire
- Writers
- Helen Fielding · screenplay; Andrew Davies · screenplay; Richard Curtis · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Renée Zellweger · Bridget Jones; Colin Firth · Mark Darcy; Hugh Grant · Daniel Cleaver; Jim Broadbent · not specified; Gemma Jones · not specified
- Genres
- romantic comedy
- Themes
- self-improvement; romance; identity
- Tone and mood
- romantic; humorous
- Premise and plot tags
- romance; comedy; modern life
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1996 novel of the same name by Helen Fielding
- Franchise connections
- Bridget Jones
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who highlighted Zellweger's performance. It was also noted for its success as a cultural icon.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 79% · scale: percentage · review count: 164; Metacritic · score: 66 · scale: 100 · review count: 33
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Actress · nomination; BAFTA Award · Best British Film · nomination; BAFTA Award · Best Adapted Screenplay · nomination; Evening Standard British Film Awards · Peter Sellers Award for Comedy · win
- Production trivia
- The film is based on a novel that was a loose adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.; Renée Zellweger gained 20 pounds for the role.; The film's soundtrack included two previously unreleased songs that became hit singles.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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