Review: Bridget Jones's Diary Blu-ray

STUDIO: Miramax/Lionsgate | DIRECTOR: Sharon Maguire | CAST: Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Jim Broadbent, Gemma Jones
RELEASE DATE: 7/19/2011 | PRICE: Blu-ray $19.99
BONUSES: commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, TV spots
SPECS: R | 98 min. | Romantic comedy | 2.35:1 aspect ratio | 5.1 DTS-HD audio | English and Spanish subtitles

RATINGS (out of 5 dishes): Movie | Audio | Video | Overall

Based on the hugely popular book of the same name, Bridget Jones’s Diary is as fun and relevant to the plight of single women — in fact, all women who aren’t a size 2 and some of them too — as it was when the film hit theaters 10 years ago. (No wonder a third movie is in development, although, here’s hoping it’s better than number two.)

The light romantic comedy isn’t necessarily the kind that you need to see in high-definition, although the reindeer sweater, Renee Zelleweger’s stocking’ed butt and the kiss in the snow do look good in this movie’s Blu-ray debut. Not to mention that Hugh Grant and Colin Firth are always worthy of high-definition.

The audio also is good, with that awesome soundtrack, including the classic “Miss Jones,” “Someone Like You” and “It’s Raining Men.”

But, other than the visuals, this Blu-ray doesn’t offer anything more than the Collector’s Edition DVD of the movie that was released by Miramax back in 2001 then re-released by Lionsgate in April 2001. That said, the special features are good.

For those who can’t get enough of the behind-the-scenes details, director Sharon Maguire’s (Incendiary) relaxed commentary goes into locations, shooting problems and more. She even spills that she got the job with a helping hand from her friend Helen Fielding, who wrote the book and the newspaper columns that introduced everywoman Bridget Jones. Maguire and Fielding were friends when Fielding invented Bridget Jones as a way to keep her own name out of her dating columns — but Maguire swears she’s not one of the characters. Hmmm.

The “Portrait of a Make-Up Artist” gives tips on how viewers can get the Bridget Jones look, as well as other ladies’ from the movie, and “The Young and the Mateless (An Expert’s Guide to Being Single)” gives humorous insights to the single life from all those involved in the film as well as Fielding and others.

For those who don’t know what a “loo” is or how to “shag,” there’s the amusing featurette “A Guide to Bridget Britishisms,” which shows a line from the movie and then translates it for Americans.

All in all, this Blu-ray is a fun disc for a good price if this Diary isn’t already on your shelves. But if Bridget’s already in your family, you might not need to upgrade.

Buy or Rent Bridget Jones’s Diary
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