--- title: "Bridget Jones's Diary: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/bridget-joness-diary/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/bridget-joness-diary" critics_score: 70 critics_reviews: 11 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Bridget Jones's Diary (2001): what the critics said Critics' score 70 from 11 reviews: 8 positive, 2 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics find Bridget Jones’s Diary a funny, warm romantic comedy, with praise concentrated on Renée Zellweger’s performance. The reviews repeatedly credit her comic timing, vulnerability and willingness to look foolish with making Bridget someone worth caring about. Hugh Grant also earns approval for his charm and acerbity, while several critics praise Sharon Maguire’s handling of farce and romance. For the majority, the adaptation preserves enough of the book’s wit to make its softer tone work. The disagreement concerns how much sharpness survives that softening, and whether the comedy compensates for the familiar plotting. Even favourable reviews note mechanical construction, sitcom tendencies or uneven pacing. Variety finds the adaptation dramatically slack and short on the book’s sardonic wit, despite its casting. The AV Club is harsher about the lurches between contrived comedy and sentimental drama, though it too praises Zellweger and Grant; the performances command broader agreement than the writing. ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 13 April 2001. The adaptation succeeds in capturing the book's charm and humor, turning the story of the lovable, flawed heroine into a funny and charming film. Zellweger's casting and performance as Bridget are singled out for creating unconditional affection for the character. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/bridget-joness-diary-2001) ## Radio Times — Lorien Haynes Rating 4/5. Zellweger brings wit and warmth to the hapless Bridget in an Oscar-nominated turn; Richard Curtis's zinger-laden script and Maguire's assured direction, aided by a stellar British ensemble, deliver a daft, dippy and very funny result. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-bx7en4/bridget-joness-diary/) ## Sight and Sound — Leslie Felperin Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 April 2001. The film is funny, engaging and winning in its self-deprecating modesty. Zellweger delivers fine comic timing and Maguire shows skill with ironic editing and bathetic deflation. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/funny-engaging-winning-its-self-deprecating-modesty-bridget-joness-diary-reviewed-2001) ## The New York Times — Molly Haskell Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 8 April 2001. Zellweger is disarmingly charming as the klutzy Bridget, convincingly winning the hearts of two attractive men despite her flaws. The film deftly adapts the book to a softer, more human tone while preserving its witty intertextuality with literature. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/08/movies/film-the-innocent-ways-of-renee-zellweger.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 13 April 2001. The film is cheerful, cheeky entertainment that survives its excesses through smart mixing of farce and romance. Zellweger's vulnerable, game performance as the resilient Bridget is the key to its success. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-apr-13-ca-50325-story.html) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 19 March 2001. The screen version bears all the signs of becoming the UK's biggest hit since Notting Hill, with Zellweger lending Bridget exuberance and sexiness, Grant offering an enjoyably acerbic variant on his image, and Firth well-placed as the charming lawyer. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/bridget-joness-diary/405322.article) ## Time Out — C O'Su Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. The simple plot succeeds because Bridget is a genuine hopeless case who stays overweight and witty; Zellweger's quivery performance and the warm, non-voyeuristic tone make it enjoyable despite the clockwork rom-com structure. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/bridget-joness-diary) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 13 April 2001. The film is a broadly enjoyable but knockabout and sitcommy picture that loses some of the book's distinctive qualities by turning Bridget into a lovable infantile clown. Zellweger's performance and Hugh Grant's charismatic turn as Daniel are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/apr/13/helenfielding) ## Variety — Lael Loewenstein Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 29 March 2001. The film fails to fully capture the book's staccato rhythms and sardonic wit, resulting in a dramatically flabby adaptation despite solid casting. Zellweger delivers as Bridget and the supporting actors are well-chosen, but the script and direction fall short. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2001/film/reviews/bridget-jones-s-diary-2-1200467073/) ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 13 April 2001. The critic finds the film uneven and herky-jerky, with sitcom flatness alternating with maudlin drama and contrived gags. They praise Zellweger and Hugh Grant for rising above the material but fault the script’s failure to commit to its themes. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/bridget-joness-diary-1798192642) ## Empire — William Thomas The adaptation succeeds as a funny and romantic British rom-com, better than Notting Hill, thanks to strong performances from the three leads. Minor issues with pacing and omitted elements are outweighed by frequent laughs and standout scenes. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/bridget-jones-diary-review/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Mark Adams 30 March 2001. The critic calls the film full of wit, warmth and honest humor with excellent performances. They single out Renée Zellweger’s splendid, heartwarming lead performance and Sharon Maguire’s direction for blending subtle charm with slapstick. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/bridget-joness-diary-2001-film-883472/) ## Total Film 13 April 2001. The film works as an entertaining rom-com for everyone, with Zellweger perfectly cast and the story retaining the book's cynical edge despite some polishing. It balances story, comedy and romance effectively while delivering big laughs. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/bridget-joness-diary-review/) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Rating 2.5/5. 11 April 2001. The critic finds the film achingly unfunny, criticizing its clichéd plot, the humiliating treatment of the lead actress, and a soppy American-style ending while noting Hugh Grant suits his caddish role. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/bridget-joness-diary-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/bridget-joness-diary.md