Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason

For truth-in-advertising purposes, the second Bridget Jones film probably should have been subtitled "No Reason for It, Except to Cash in On the Success of the First Movie."

Or perhaps it could have been "More of the Same," since that's certainly the case here. There's really no material in the nonsensically titled "The Edge of Reason" that wasn't covered in the first film.

In fact, all this pale sequel does is remind you how much sweeter and more heartfelt — and therefore much better — its predecessor was. And while it did have its share of crude and crass moments, this one really ups the ante in that regard.

"The Edge of Reason" picks up the story a few weeks after the end of the first film. As it turns out, the rather curvy title character (RenZe Zellweger) is still dating human-rights lawyer Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). However, she's doing everything she can to mess that relationship up. Thanks to her continual neuroses, she's become rather clingy and she's even accused Mark of cheating on her with his beautiful co-worker (Jacinda Barrett).

So he abruptly dumps her. And to virtually no one's surprise, Bridget finds herself in a familiar situation: flirting with her former boss, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), who's now a reporter for a television travel program.

When the two are sent to Thailand to do an episode for the show, the trip goes from bad to worse in a hurry. Bridget rebuffs Daniel's advances, and then she is thrown behind bars after being caught with drugs in her suitcase. Needless to say, wacky hijinks ensue. And even if you believe it's appropriate to make a Thai prison look like Club Med, it's just not funny. But then, neither is much else in the film.

Even Zellweger, who was so endearing the first time around, becomes tiresome. And while Firth's character is supposed to be a bit of a pill, he's so uninteresting that it's a wonder that anyone would want him.

The film's one bright spot is Grant, still relishing the opportunity to play such an unrepentant cad. But there's not nearly enough of him in the movie — he only comes in about halfway through the film, and by then, the life has already been sucked out of it.

"Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" is rated R for crude sexual references and other vulgar sexual humor, occasional use of strong sexual profanity, drug content (use of hallucinogens, as well as cocaine possession), some brief sexual content, violence (mostly a slapstick tussle), and glimpses of some nude artwork. Running time: 108 minutes.

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