One of the challenges of a sequel, or follow-up to a big film, is to continue the special, er, magic that made the first movie work (assuming first film worked to begin with). The real challenge is to make Part 2 fresh, but the filmmakers have to at least replicate some of the humor, action, gimmicks, etc. to bring back the fans, and then some.
Of course, there is also the matter of consistency of behavior, of making the characters act in a way similar to the previous outing.This brings up “”Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason””, which is also based on a book from Helen Fielding, and stars Renee Zellweger in the title role. Much of the same cast returns, although with a different director (Beebon Kidron), and a seemingly bigger budget, what with an early skydiving scene, and location shooting in Austria and Thailand as well as the UK. There are also flashier moments, like a “”Sound of Music”” moment, and another where a camera pans back to reveal views of London apartments, and its cityscape in general.Anyway, getting back to the heroine, in her first big screen appearance she faced a series of pratfalls in regards to her dating her boss Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), putting up with her temporarily separated parents (Jim Broadbent and Gemma Jones)–particularly the latter–and their friends, and worrying about her weight, smoking habit, and less than stellar conversation skills. Ms. Jones’s problems, as daunting as they might have been, were rooted in some semblance of reality, and while there was a fanciful quality to “”Bridget Jones’s Diary””, such as the final scene, hers was a situation that many could relate, i.e. ‘singletons’.This current film, while highlighting Zellweger’s talents once again as the bubbly Brit, has many contrived situations, and one silly mishap after another, albeit some of which are humorous. Bridget also comes across as dumber this time, blurting out inappropriate statements, literally stumbling around, and showing a lack of geographic knowledge. She literally seems to do nothing right, which might be fine if it were out of place given the character in the earlier film.The opening of “”..The Edge of Reason”” is almost identical to “”..Diary””, except for, as Bridget points out, one crucial difference: her having a boyfriend, prominent human rights lawyer Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). The two have been together for six weeks–she actually has it down to exact number of weeks, days and hours (!)–and Bridget couldn’t be happier. She also is still a reporter for “”Sit Up Britain””, doing the above skydiving segment, and earning points at the program, even while getting into embarrassing moments on tape.Her romance with Mark starts to get tested when she tries to hobnob with his lawyer colleagues, highlighted by a sequence at a Lawyers’ Council Dinner, and finds potential competition for his affections from his attractive and intelligent co-worker Rebecca (Jacinda Barrett). She, unlike Bridget, seems to say the right things, has longer legs, and knows her pop music cold. It isn’t long before Ms. Jones suspects Mark to be having a tryst with Rebecca, and this, combined with commitment and other issues, causes the formerly blissful couple to split.[pagebreak]Things become bleak for the protagonist, and they get worse, when she discovers that ex-boyfriend Daniel (Grant) has now landed a job at the same network, specifically as host of “”The Smooth Guide””, a travel/cultural program that really seems to be an outlet for his libido. If this weren’t bad enough for her, she now has to accompany him–per the station’s instructions–on a trip to Thailand as his co-host. Bridget, accompanied by pal Shazzer (Sally Phillips), heads to Southeast Asia, where she tries to fend off Daniel–not easy as, befitting someone played by Grant, he is ‘so’ charming–and has more silly misadventures.In regards to what happens in Thailand, and without giving too much away, some situations can’t be taken too lightly. Also, one can be a bad significant other even without hitting or getting thrown out on the street. Anyway, having a person go through a plethora of misfortunes is a little much, and there could be any number of more serious things that Bridget could deal with, trying to be in a relationship and all.This is not to knock silly comedies, there are many great ones, but this film doesn’t fit the earlier movie which tried to look at a single person’s life in a light but not over-the-top manner. There weren’t any moments like, say, the lead character attempting to ski (which she can’t) only to go downhill, winding up on the course of a championship race with professionals, then outpacing them and eventually skiing into a pharmacy where she asks in bad German (this scene is set in Austria) for a pregnancy test(!). Yes, Bridget Jones is expected to be funny, but escapades like the above are more suited to old Three Stooges bits than in here.Then there is the matter of Rebecca (Barrett), who literally seems to pop up everywhere, in Mark’s house, at the Lawyers’ dinner, in Europe, on the phone. The way this plot with her resolves itself is less than satisfying too, but ah well…This isn’t to say that “”..The Edge of Reason”” isn’t without it’s moments. Zellweger is good again, literally becoming her role (to the point that one sees Bridget Jones on the screen, rather that Zellweger ‘as’ Jones), and there are good bits, like where annoying Janey (Lucy Robinson) shows up to pester Bridget and her friends. As for those friends, Shazzer (Phillips), Jude (Shirley Henderson), and Tom (James Callis) return this time around, albeit less–except for Shazzer, and there isn’t as much of the Jones’ this time around also.Another good scene is the–and yet another–fight between Daniel and Mark. Although their battle doesn’t make as much sense this time around, it still provides laughs to see the two of them duke it out, set to “”I Believe in a Thing Called Love”” by the Darkness, and with the two upper-crust guys swinging at each other and flailing about.[pagebreak]Another note–about the music, there appears to be much more of it this time around, although the first film had its prominent soundtrack as well. Songs in this sequel include the aforementioned one by The Darkness, “”Think”” by Aretha Franklin, Madonna’s “”Like a Virgin”” (in what is particular a strange moment), and a re-mix of Sting’s “”We’ll Be Together””–a lot of retro stuff here.””Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason”” tries too hard for laughs, and tries to throw in more, with characters globe-trotting, slapstick moments, and the dumbing down of the protagonist (she should know where Germany is, for instance). Other characters continue to make their appearances, such as Rebecca and Daniel, and Mark seems to be one super-barrister here–hanging around ambassadors, Members of Parliament, and international trade liaisons…he should be Prime Minister already.In comparing the two films, there is the realization that less is sometimes more, and a simple story can be more effective than a flick with fancy scenery and elaborate scenes.Grade: C+EM Reviewby Andrew Haas11/12/04