Parents' Guide to

Bridget Jones's Diary

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Single gal's romantic mishaps are fun for older teens.

Movie R 2001 97 minutes
Bridget Jones's Diary Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 14+

Based on 2 parent reviews

carolinesimbar
carolinesimbar Adult
May 8, 2020
age 14+

This title has:

Great messages
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
FosterFan
FosterFan Parent of 0-year-old
October 18, 2011
age 13+

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.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 2 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (25):

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 of , 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 great pleasures in Bridget Jones's Diary.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about self image in Bridget Jones's Diary. What sort of factors do you think affect Bridget's body image and self-esteem?

  • How do we sort through all of the expectations of our families and our society to decide 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?

  • How does Bridget Jones's Diary relate to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice? What similarities are there between the two stories? What is different in the modern setting?

Movie Details

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