Early 2000s rom-coms can be quite exciting to watch. They include some very typical tropes and follow very common romantic themes. In fact, more often than not, these stories revolve around the idea of women trying hard to find love. In today’s world, rom-coms have taken a more progressive approach. Movies likeThe Lovebirds,Isn’t It Romantic,Always Be My Maybe, andLove, Simonstepped away from the very limited frameof the early rom-coms, which revolve around conventionally “beautiful” heterosexual couples.Bridget Jones’s Diaryisone rom-comthat seemingly sticks to the narrow idea of romance.
This 2001 film is based on Helen Fielding’s 1996 novel of the same name. Interestingly, Fielding’s novel is somewhat of a modern retake on Austen’sPride and Prejudice. However,unlike Austen’s protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet,Fielding’s protagonist, Bridget Jones, might have been portrayed as a character that focuses a lot on finding the right man. The film has opened up the debate of whether it is a problematic take on a woman’s life given the way it emphasizes on the protagonist’s flaws (as per the social norms), or whether it is a mere representation of life.
Related:9 Movies Based on Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice
The Body Issues
If I didn’t change soon, I was going to live a life where my major relationship was with a bottle of wine, and I’d finally diefat and alone,
This statement byBridget Jones (Renée Zellweger)sums up the foundational idea of the film. From the very beginning of the story, the film highlights on Bridget’s weight as the protagonist goes to great lengths to keep track of her weight, including, writing the digits in her diary.As Sophie Vershbow points out, “we are told from the start that Bridget’s number is an obstacle to overcome, and she spends much of the remainder of the film trying to alter herself.” Thus, we see the character trying so hard to become a better version of herself not by focusing on her unhealthy lifestyle, which includes some toxic relationships, but by focusing on her body.
In today’s world, this would’ve created some major backlash. Especially given how diet culture and toxic body-shaming have led to many mental and physical health issues. In fact, if one were to analyze the film, they would be able to see how Bridget blames her body for her single lifestyle as she regards herself as “unattractive”. The idea of fat being ugly is reinforced throughout the movie and is seen as a source of unhappiness for the character. If the movie took a different approach by allowing Bridget to appreciate her body and love herself instead of trying to change herself to attract meant, the character would’ve been a better portrayal.
Single 30 = Unsuccessful?
The way Bridget is fixated on finding a man simply because society expects one to be married by 30 is quite absurd. With the added pressure from her mother, the film focuses on her journey to find Mr. Right. The question is whether this is a sarcastic reflection on these ludicrous stereotypes or whether it is just another rom-com that reinforces the idea that single life means doom. Unfortunately, since the film fails to show Bridget being happy about leading an independent life, it is hard to say that this is a sarcastic approach. In fact, with Mr. Darcy (Colin Firth) being portrayed as the “ideal man” and the ultimate source of Bridget’s happiness, the film does more harm than good by further establishing the idea that a woman needs a man to be happy.
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Flirting or Sexual Harassment at Workplace?
The “relationship” between Bridget’s boss,Daniel (Hugh Grant)and Bridget is not only cringy, but super uncomfortable to watch. There are so many things wrong with it. From the very toxic and insensitive nature of Daniel, to his selfish obsession with Bridget, this character is definitely the epitome of inappropriateness. The biggest problem is the way he approaches and treats Bridget in the workplace. Yes, Bridget might be infatuated with him, but it is definitely no excuse to send her weird emails and to touch her inappropriately. Does the film romanticize this? Yes. This further shows how problematic this film can be. In fact, Fielding goes on toaccept the sexual harassment natureof this encounter as:
Fielding confessed, “The level of sexism that Bridget was dealing with, the hand on the bum in so many of the scenes [made it] quite shocking for me to see how things have changed”
It is Just Life As It Is
Clare Thorp states,“Bridget was not perfect, but that was the point. Fielding has said her character reflects “this gap between how you feel you’re supposed to be and how you really are.” This is definitely the premise of the film. However, unfortunately, it fails to fit into today’s world. While it must be commended the way in which the film uses a protagonist’s flaws to address the reality of life and how everyone has their own struggles, the abnormal emphasis on fatphobia, the random homophobic jokes like the use of the word “poof” in an offensive manner, and the reestablishment of the idea that women need men to make their life complete, regardless of them having a successful career, might do more harm than good.
Bridget Jones’s Diaryis a piece of its time. It does reflect on problematic social norms and how it negatively affects women. However, the film’s ending suggests that the protagonist goes on to accept the norm and adhere to them, which might have a negative impact on the viewer.
