Look again “Bridget Jones’ Diary” 20 years after its premiere: 10/10. Highly recommended.
In 2001, a 32-year-old British white woman resonated with a teenager. Though it should be obvious, a young Rasha’s “Bridget Jones’ Diary” showed that unpolished, average, eccentric, and supposedly “overweight” women were worthy of love and respect. And it was also where my unrequited The love affair with Hugh Grant began.
I’m not one to watch movies that I’ve watched over and over, so sit down and watch Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones in 2021 came with many welcome memories, important memories and less crowning moments than I expected.
Renee Zellweger returns to the big screen in “Bridget Jones’s Baby” after a long absence.
Oh, and this film is very white. I don’t know if Rasha, a teenager who didn’t notice, or if it was because an all-white cast was just the norm back then, but wow.
Bridget had no black friends? No Asian employees? Interesting.
Once I got over the lack of melanin, it was comforting to know that 20 years later, the concept of dating and love still hasn’t changed.
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After another vacation season spent alone and a failed romantic relationship with Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) orchestrated by her mother, Bridget decides to take control of her life by setting New Year’s resolutions that are in it To lose 20 pounds and cut down on their alcohol and cigarette consumption. Seems harmless enough except that we’ll soon know Bridget weighs 136 pounds.
“I suddenly realized that if things didn’t change soon, I would lead a life where my main relationship was with a bottle of wine and eventually I would die fat and alone and be found half-eaten by wild dogs three weeks later” , Says Jones in the movie.
Ma’am.
While it shouldn’t matter what numbers on a scale are used to describe a person’s weight, losing 20 pounds while weighing 136 (and sister still looks slim) is a bit of a problem in a society who already appreciates thinner bodies. If 136 pounds is considered “fat,” what is a 160 pound rasha supposed to think ?!
Bridget’s budding relationship with her boss Daniel Cleaver (Grant) is sparked by what can only be described as inappropriate behavior at best, and sexual harassment at worst. Once we get past the archaic awkwardness of X-rated flirting at work, Bridget and Daniel’s relationship reminds us of important lessons about love that we should never forget.
Bridget teaches us to be vulnerable. Demand respect. Have limits and actually hold on to them. As she tries to improve herself without deviating from who she really is.
She falls in love with Daniel and tells him that too, even though the relationship is about two weeks old. And when he seems scared and goes to her family’s party, she confronts him.
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Renee Zellweger and Hugh Grant in “Bridget Jones’ Diary”.Alex Bailey, Miramax Films
“Listen, Daniel, if you’ve changed your mind, you can just say it. Because I honestly don’t see what could be so important,” says Bridget, calling Daniel and giving him the opportunity to be more honest than to lead them further. We love to see it.
We later find out that Daniel actually cheated and cheated on Bridget with another colleague. While upset by the news, Bridget gets up and leaves the relationship. She finds a new job and even after Daniel asked her to stay, she firmly says no and walks out of the office to hear Aretha Franklin’s “respect”.
Yass’s sister, leave him!
After Bridget bid Daniel and his Shenanigans adieu, Mark finds his way into the life of our protagonist and the two apparently have a good cause ahead of them. But because ex-partners who got you wrong have a sixth sense of when things are going well in your life, Daniel shows up at Bridget’s door while she is having dinner with Mark and her friends, begging for her back.
Renee Zellweger and Sally Phillips in “Bridget Jones’ Diary”.Alex Bailey, Miramax Films
Daniel and Mark even get into a fight, partly because of Bridget, but mostly because of an unresolved story between the two. An injured Daniel is still trying to win Bridget over by telling her, “If I can’t do it with you, I can’t do it with anyone.”
This is not good enough for our friend Bridget, who is sticking to her limits. She knows she deserves better than what Daniel is offering, and although Bridget wanted love and a life partner, she does not settle down.
Bridget would rather have no one than someone who is not good for her. It’s a logical notion, but despite the sense it makes, some of us have found (* embarrassed, raise a hand *) that we are giving people one too many chances. Allowing people to abuse us. We settle for OK so that we don’t die alone and have to be half eaten by wolves.
But because this is a rom-com, Bridget obviously found someone: Mark.
Even after 20 years, “Bridget Jones’ Diary” reminds us of unconventionally beautiful women who, according to social standards, do not have their lives together and do not have to be satisfied with love.
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Published 11:05 UTC April 11, 2021
Updated 13:19 UTC April 11, 2021
