Bridget Jones's Diary (Collector's Edition)

Colin Firth and Hugh Grant in one movie? An embarrassment of riches! Yes, we all know that "Bridget Jones's Diary" is a funny, smart, entertaining movie, but is this new "collector's series" DVD a worthy addition to your collection or even necessary? Plus, since the film has appeared on TNT, which if "The Mummy" is any indication, means you won't be able to escape it for the next few years, do you need this on DVD at all?

Out of fairness, let's start with the movie itself. Featuring that Texan diva Renee Zellweger as the zaftig Brit Bridget, the film charts a year in the life of everywoman. Bridget means well, Bridget makes resolutions, Bridget screws up, Bridget sleeps with the boss (Grant, lucky Bridget), Bridget breaks up with boss, Bridget drinks too much and smokes, Bridget eventually winds up with the surprisingly-right-for-her Mark Darcy (Firth). Pretty much an average year in your life too, right? Yeah, right.

The charm of Bridget is that she does screw up so royally and in so many amusing ways (wearing Granny panties on a date to increase her odds of getting some, sliding down a fireman's pole bum-first into a television camera while wearing a miniskirt, mistakenly attending a garden party while wearing a Playboy bunny outfit). Still she essays bravely on, facing a world of smug marrieds with her chums, belting out "All by Myself" when she finds herself alone during the holidays. She's hysterical and exaggerated and yet incredibly real, thanks in large part to Zellweger, who successfully brings to life a character that was revealed only in diary entries in the book on which the movie is based. Yes, Zellweger famously gained weight for the role, but she's even more fearless in how silly and unattractive she's willing to be to portray a woman who's best moments in the story are when she's at her worst. As she proved in "Nurse Betty", Zellweger's got a talent for broad comedy. She also manages to blend in seamlessly with the otherwise British cast.

Another part of the film's charm is due to that cast, especially Firth and Grant. This film was the first to have Grant let his inner scoundrel run wild (rent "About a Boy" for even more fun-nasty Grant), and he's a tart delight. Even the nice guy, Firth semi-reprising his "Pride and Prejudice" role of Mr. Darcy, isn't sticky sweet. Firth nicely plays an ass in the beginning of the movie, then becomes more and more attractive himself as we watch him discover Bridget's inner beauty. Plus, Grant and Firth's nancy-boy fight over Bridget towards the end of the movie, one of the stellar parts of the film that was nowhere in the book by Helen Fielding, is an absolute scream.

Consistently funny, even on repeat viewing (even considering the TNT repeats), yet also consistently romantic and touching, "Bridget Jones's Diary" is a grade A movie.