Classic--Bridget Jones's Diary

or: A real chick flick.

One word to sum it up: Bonkers.

Let's start off the new year of reviews with a movie I watched before Christmas (man, I am getting slack with these!). What do you get when you put a porkier-than-usual Renee Zellweger, the ever so dreamy Hugh Grant and an arrogant and cynical Colin Firth in one movie? Well, apart from getting a good combo of actors, you get Bridget Jones's Diary, quite possibly the Bible-movie for the real woman. Or, rather, it's the movie that deals with the pain of dressing up like a prostitute to a party which was once a costumed one, but they cancelled that idea without you knowing. Now come on...we've all had bad dreams like that, now haven't we?

Bridget Jones (Renee Zellweger) is an average woman struggling against her age, her weight, her job, her lack of a man, and her many imperfections. As a New Year's Resolution, Bridget decides to take control of her life, starting by keeping a diary in which she will always tell the complete truth. The fireworks begin when her charming though disreputable boss (Hugh Grant) takes an interest in the quirky Miss Jones. Thrown into the mix are Bridget's band of slightly eccentric friends and a rather disagreeable acquaintance (Colin Firth)who Bridget cannot seem to stop running into or help finding quietly attractive.

Being a chick, of course I had this magnetic attraction to this movie. But the thing was, I loved it more than I thought I would. Considering I'm not really the biggest fan of Renee Zellweger, she really did it for me. While she was just another American actress, she seemed to fit the role of a British 'spinster' quite well, with her high pitched accent and fearless pulling off of her frumpy wardrobe. Everything that Bridget does seems to end in disaster, and while this kind of behaviour is usually what you'd expect of a ditzy stocky character, Bridget is one the audience can really feel for. Instead of just laughing your head off at her antics, it's more like that 'aw, bless her' kind of attitude. If a woman hasn't found herself in a Bridget-situation at least once before she dies, then she hasn't lived.

Bridget Jones's Diary has a really clever script, which carefully intertwines slapstick comedy with clever jokes that never get tiresome. Along with that, it has an always interesting love triangle which develops as the film progresses. While the two men Bridget has within arms reach may be complete asses, you can't help but hope for the best with whoever she chooses. Colin Firth is a particular standout, as he is so deadpan and arrogant in this movie that it makes you ponder on how many good bones the man has in his body...not many, if I were to guess. After watching this movie, I wondered what happened to all these good chick flicks. Yeah, even the crap ones are enjoyable, but this one is actually hilariously funny. Which is a trait that many of the recent chick flicks seem to forget.


THE VERDICT: Awesome chick flick for 15 years and up, with a charming performance from Renee Zellweger as our lovely heroine.

8/10

DVD--Sex and the City 2

or: Grumpy old women in flashy clothes.

One word to sum it up: Bloated.

Once or twice I may have said--and this was very early in the year--that I was looking forward to watching Sex and the City 2, mainly because I liked the first one. However, upon seeing critics coming out in droves and absolutely trashing it, I really wasn't that interested in seeing it. I mean, seriously? A movie with four whiny middle-aged women wearing designer clothes and totting around in high heels living in fantasy land while the rest of us live in reality? The first one did well considering it was 'The Godfather of chick flicks'. Look at it this way: Sarah Jessica Parker is aging, and we no longer care for her and her friends exploits. They really over-cooked the big screen transition, and with news of a third one being in development, I think they are going to burn this series out.

What happens after you say 'I do'? Life is everything Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha (Kim Cattrall), Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) ever wished it would be, but it wouldn't be right if life didn't hold a few more surprises. This time in the form of a glamourous adventure that whisks the women away from New York to one of the most luxurious and exotic places on earth, where the party never ends and there's something mysterious around every corner. It's an escape that comes exactly at the right moment for the four friends, who are finding themselves in the traditional roles of marriage, motherhood and more. After all, sometimes you just have to get away with the girls.

Sex and the City 2 isn't as exciting as that 'synopsis' made it out to be. The main plotline of the whole thing is Carrie taking a break from Big and the 'boring old married couple' life she thinks she is a part of. As you can imagine, stretching this rather thin plotline out over 140 minutes (about the length of Inception...imagine that) is like trying to tie an average size rubber band around a truck. The first few minutes shine, but unfortunately this easily becomes chick flick heaven and an average borefest. Here's some of the most exciting things that happen in the film: Liza Minnelli sings a few songs (!); Charlotte breaks down and thinks the nanny (played by Alice Eve who has a pretty spot on Irish accent) is going to have an affair with her husband; Carrie goes back to the old apartment (!); Penelope Cruz!; We go to Abu Dhabi in luxury; and well, the credits. Seriously, guys, what went wrong with this movie? You do know that not everyone isn't as into watching the lives of the well off in New York, especially when they have grown as annoying as these four ladies have? Scratch that, I still like Charlotte.

The moral of the story is: if you want a good girls night in, then get Sex and the City 2. If you think you can handle 140 minutes of nothing but the same women dealing with strange problems that you may not have cared about in the first place, then get Sex and the City 2. If you liked the first movie and the TV series, then you may still want to watch this movie. However, the best parts are still the clothes, which are thrown at the four women like they are clothes horses. I do have one strict message: ladies, don't drag your boyfriend/fiancee/husband into watching this. I can guarantee they will not be happy with you. This movie was only ever intended for women, and, unfortunately, I couldn't stomach this 140 minute piece of girl-power. Even if it was a bit better than I thought it would be. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease, don't make a third Sex and the City. For the sake of womanhood.


THE VERDICT: While it isn't as bad as some critics made it seem, Sex and the City 2 is still a very overcooked sequel, which seems to lose itself in it's bloated running time. Sarah Jessica Parker has truly lost her mojo.

4/10

Sex and the City: The Movie

When I first watched Sex and the City: The Movie all the way back in 2008, I really really enjoyed it. But that was back when I didn't have a clue on how to rate a movie (I think the smartest thing I ever did was rate The Dark Knight 10/10). Yeah, it's a yummy chick flick, but seriously? 8/10? What was I thinking?!

Following on from the popular TV show Sex and the City, we are looking into the lives of four best friends living in New York: fashionista and writer Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker); preppy and organized Charlotte York (Kristin Davis); sex-loving cougar Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall) and working mother Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon). Carrie is getting married to her man Mr. Big (Chris Noth), but when he leaves her jilted on her wedding day, Carrie has to figure out what to do with her life next.
I really do like to watch chick flicks. Only for their entertainment, because I know that none of them offer anything that my real cinematic mind can really chew on. I guess that's why I 'liked' it so much back in the day. However, despite it's entertainment factor, this movie makes middle aged women look stereotypical and whiny. Sure, I desperately want cool gal pals like Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha and Miranda. But they sure would get a little annoying.
The film shamelessly parades the fact that this is a movie for women. I kind of found it disturbing how a man created this and directed all of those slow mo shots of a naked guy showering. I have never watched the TV show, and probably never will, so I missed a lot of character development which was missing in this film (probably for a good reason, too). Despite it's general fluffiness and flaws, I still found it immensely entertaining and somewhat worth my time. I never thought I would say that. I do admit that I am jealous of the insanely awesome wardrobe they have going on. And I will be watching the second film when it comes out on DVD...even though I know it's going to be complete and utter crap.

The Godmother of all chick flicks...did we actually need one of those?


6/10