 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Bridget Jones's Diary
- Review Date: May 19, 2003
- R
- Genre: Comedy
- 2001
Common Sense Media says
Oh, such fun for older teens!
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie is rated R for strong language and for sexual situations and references. There is a very brief shot of a naked couple making love. Characters drink and smoke a lot.
What's the story?
In BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY, Bridget wants to lose weight, stop smoking and drinking, and stop worrying about getting a boyfriend -- so that she can get a boyfriend. But first, she has to get through the gorgeous cad stage -- having an affair with her workaholic, alcoholic, self-centered, needy, but witty and undeniably extremely gorgeous boss, Daniel (Hugh Grant). But being taken advantage of by Daniel is not the worst of Bridget's trials. There is her mother, who leaves her father for an oily home shopping channel pitchman with a fake tan. There is showing up for a "tarts and vicars" party in a Playboy bunny outfit because no one told her that they had decided not to have the guests wear costumes after all. There is the rather stunning shot of Bridget from below as she slides down a fireman's pole, broadcast throughout the country on television. And there is the stiff and disapproving childhood neighbor, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), now a divorced barrister, who always seems to be there just as Bridget encounters disaster.
Is it any good?
Renée Zellwegger is irresistible as Bridget Jones, in this delectable romantic comedy with some sly references to that uber-romantic comedy, Pride and Prejudice. From the opening credits, when we see her singing along with the radio to "All By Myself" in her flannel pajamas, we know that she is destined to find someone who loves her as much as we do already, and that we will have a lot of fun on the way there. Hugh Grant seems positively relieved not to have to be the stammering, adorable, truehearted "Notting Hill" guy anymore. He plays the part of Daniel, "a disaster with a posh voice and a terrible character," with such relish that viewers enjoy seeing Bridget fall for him almost as much as they enjoy seeing her tell him off.
Like his namesake in Pride and Prejudice, though, Darcy turns out to have more tenderness and humor than one would think. And so do the filmmakers. Firth, who played Darcy in the television miniseries Pride and Prejudice, appears as this Mr. Darcy as well, and his sly and subtle variation on the character is another of the movie's great pleasures.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how we sort through all of the expectations of our families and our society in deciding who we will be and what chances we will take.
What does someone have to know about herself in order to turn down a Daniel? In order to understand what someone like Darcy has to offer?
Parents could take about the many references to Austen's Pride and Prejudce.
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- Teens & kids
AGE
Fine for teens
This movie is okay, but very sexual and lots of language. For a teenager, though, it is probably okay.
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AGE
WAY FUNNY!!!!1
I probably shouldn't have seen this at ten, but who really cares? If you've heard all the swear words and gotten over them, then you should be totally fine watching it! I've heard the word f--k before and I'm not so immature that I burst out laughing everytime I hear the word! So go ahead and watch it if you're mature enough. It's WAY funny!
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AGE
Fabulous Zellweger, lots of smoking.
How could someone look into Renée Zellweger's big, beautiful eyes and not be immediately charmed by her? Sure, there is a lot of swearing (particularly the F word, a lot), lots of drinking and chain smoking, and sex. But if you can see past all that, you'll find a great, truly hilarious comedy , led by a great leading lady.
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Kid, 11 years old
October 24, 2010
AGE
F word used a lot
Glad I didn't watch this.
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AGE
I think it is fine for ages 13+ as long as they are quite mature
Love this film! So funny!
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| Studio: | Miramax |
| Director: | Sharon Maguire |
| Cast: | Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Renee Zellweger |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 97 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | April 13, 2001 |
| DVD release date: | November 9, 2004 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | language, sexual references and situations |
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