2001's Bridget Jones's Diary is based on the 1995 novel of the same name which was loosely based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
RULE #1 - The Characters
A:
The Couple - Bridget Jones &
Mark Darcy.
i - Balance - No, the book and film are from Bridget's POV, being, as the title suggests, based around the idea that it's Bridget's diary.
ii - Opposites in Attitude/Behaviour - Her: Slob, can't cook; Him: Repressed
iv - Occupations/free time involving Romance or the Media - She is in publishing in the beginning then
moves on to television. He is a lawyer, but the one case we see is based around helping a couple stay together.
B:
The Best Friend/Confidant
Bridget has a trio of friends. They only appear as a group (except Jude who appears once on the end of a phone in "trapped in a bathroom". They really offer support more than advice, seemingly only telling her what she wants to hear.
Jude
Jude is "Hollywood ugly": attractive, cute but doesn't look like a supermodel. She's the wackiest of the group, has man troubles herself and advises Bridget on landing a man.
Shazza
Shazza is the prettiest and most sensible of the group and therefore the least interesting. Except that she likes to say "fuck" a lot. Said to be based on the director of the film.
Tom
Tom is attractive and a sleazy/slutty gay stereotype.
C:
The Third Person
Bridget's boss
Daniel Cleaver, is a relationship during the film which interferes with Bridget and Darcy getting together. Darcy's law partner
Natasha tries to win Darcy but he shows little interest in her.
RULE #2 - There Won't Be T&A
No T&A, so brief skin in one scene, and lots of Bridget in embarrassing underwear. Bridget and Cleaver have lots of sex, Bridget and Darcy don't have any.
RULE #3 - The Meet-Cute
The in film
Meet-Cute is silly parent supplied clothes and unfortunate overheard insult. However, there is the story of a naked 4 year old Bridget playing in Darcy's wading pool which is certainly used as one over and over.
RULE #4 - Circumstances
An personal attack on Bridget by Darcy and overheard by Bridget and a lie told about Darcy by Cleaver creates a wedge between the pair.
RULE #5 - Realisation of Love
It seems that Darcy realises that he likes Bridget after she embarrasses herself at a book launch, and seems to fall more for her every time she embarrasses herself. Which is a good thing since the entire film is about her embarrassing herself. Cleaver does the same, starting, it seems with her horrible karaoke performance at a work Chi-mas party.
Bridget began to realise she loved Darcy when he confessed he liked her.
RULE #6 - The Break-Up
Bridget and Darcy were never really together to break up. The closest they got was him visiting her for her birthday.
A:
The Reason - Any chance of anything happening after the party were crushed by his fight with Cleaver.
B:
The Event - Her birthday dinner, which was a disaster but was partially saved by Darcy before it was ruined by him starting a fight.
C:
Humiliation - The entire film is humiliation after humiliation for Bridget, the fight really wasn't much of one. Darcy may have found it mildly embarrassing.
D:
But... - Bridget's dislike of Darcy is based on a previous lie by Cleaver.
E:
The Turmoil - Bridget undergoes a little turmoil because both Darcy and Cleaver are out of her life.
RULE #7 - Separated Forever
At the Darcy's Ruby Wedding Anniversary it is announced that Darcy is moving to New York. With his law partner. Which he does. And then comes back.
RULE #8 - Redemption
C:
The Stunt - When her father is driving safely in snowy conditions, Bridget replaces him as driver and drives dangerously to the anniversary. This is before she knows he is leaving.
D:
The Romantic Gesture - Bridget does the traditional speech interruption at the anniversary when she discovers Darcy will be leaving the country. However, embarrassed she tries to cover not going all the way.
At the end of the film Bridget chases Darcy into a busy snowy street in her underwear when she thinks he is leaving her. Whether this counts as a stunt, a romantic gesture or both I'm not sure.
RULE #9 - Happily Ever After
Ends with them kissing. The new diary for a "new start" also implies a possible ever-after. During credits some to-camera stuff suggesting the relationship lasts.
RULE #10 - Sequels
Actual - The film has a sequel, based on the sequel to novel (the novel has 2 sequels).
Spiritual - The leads, Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant, are all regularly leads in romantic films. The screenplay is by Richard Curtis (regular writer of British romantic comedies) and Andrew Davies (adapter of Austen and romantic films). Grant previously appeared in Curtis's
Four Weddings & a Funeral.
Results
The following rules were followed in this film: 1Aii; 1Aiv; 1B; 1C; 2; 3; 4; 6; 10.
The following rules were partially followed in this film: 5; 7; 8; 9.
The following rules were not followed in this film: 1Ai; 1Aiii.
~ DUG.
