Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (R)
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This is the sequel to Bridget Jones's Diary. It came out in 2004, but I didn't see it until 2016 (a little over a month before the release of the third movie in the series). Like the first movie, it's based on a book by Helen Fielding. Also like the first book/movie, the sequel was influenced by a Jane Austen novel, this time "Persuasion." (Unlike the first one, I don't think I have any knowledge of "Persuasion." It also bears mentioning that "Persuasion" is not related to Austen's "Pride & Prejudice," so... I expect the sequel is not as directly influenced by Austen as the first book/movie was. Or were.) Anyway...

When the movie starts, Bridget and Mark have been together for like a month and a half. Bridget is deliriously happy, and Mark... well, he's Mark (i.e., not the demonstrative type). In any event, the relationship seems pretty solid... until Bridget's friends get into her head. (Well, also someone who is not a friend gets into her head.) The not-friend puts the idea in Bridget's head that Mark is having an affair with a woman named Rebecca Gilles. And of course, Bridget is... well, she's Bridget (i.e., neurotic, paranoid, and kind of redonkulous). Still, Mark manages to convince her she has nothing to worry about. For awhile. Buuuuut... the fact is, the two of them are very different people, so of course Bridget's paranoia doesn't stay under control for long. And things between her and Mark get sort of complicated.

Meanwhile, Daniel has recently started doing a travel guide show for the same TV station Bridget works for. (Or maybe it's a network, I really don't know.) Anyway, she's eventually forced to work with Daniel, and the two of them (plus Shazza) go to Thailand together. Which could rekindle old feelings. But things get complicated. (Like, seriously, can any aspect of Bridget's life ever not be complicated?) But um... eventually she gets back home (after spending more time in Thailand than expected, for a reason I won't spoil). And she learns something about Mark from her friends that surprises her (in a scene that had four friends instead of the usual three, and I have no idea who the other one was). Then she goes to Mark's place, where she learns something surprising about Rebecca. Anyway...

Anyway, as usual, I've already said too much while also leaving too much out. Whatevs. I guess the movie wasn't as well received critically as the first movie, and I think it's safe to say I didn't like it as well as the first movie, either. But I definitely didn't like it that much less than the first movie. I still thought it was fairly funny, and some parts of it were fairly romantic (even if I rarely saw any reason for Bridget and Mark to actually love each other, I accept that they did). And... I guess I don't know what else to say.