Renee Zellweger's most iconic roles, one she plays out brilliantly as a down-on-her-luck 30-something-year-old woman who, by all s, doesn't fit society's standards of success for what a woman should be. She also can't seem to find a romantic partner who treats her with respect. Bridget Jones becomes a picture of the average woman that many can relate to.
What makes the movie so beloved is that each difficult blow in Bridget's life is met with a playful humor which doesn't underplay the pain of what she's going through, but also doesn't allow it do dominate her completely. Such humor courses through the dialogue of the movie, which many fans will recognize for the fact that it's been quoted so much throughout the years.
That's Not A Good Enough Offer For Me
After breaking her heart, Daniel comes running back to Bridget as if she will be sitting around waiting for him, but she has wised up since their time together. Bridget recognizes that being satisfied with the scraps Daniel throws her is not a way to live if she is to respect herself--and so even when he comes crawling, she turns him down.
No, I Like You Very Much. Just As You Are
Mark Darcy and Bridget have an awkward dynamic for most of the movie. Neither seems to particularly like the other, and Bridget even goes so far as to think that Mark very much dislikes her and disapproves of her. However, just when she thinks he's about to make some belittling comment, it turns out he actually ires her--not despite all of her flaws, but including them.
I Have To Say, This Really Is The Most Incredible Sh*t
It's a simply adorable and hilarious part of the movie when Bridget aims to make dinner for her friends and they all end up sitting around the table with Mark, eating the most disgusting looking food and trying to pretend it's good.
Mark breaks the silence by making a joke that acknowledges the humor of the situation and signifies that he can be kind and appreciate who Bridget is and not take things too seriously.
If You Wanted To Pop By Sometime That Might Be Nice... More Than Nice
Bridget and Mark finally begin to realize that they like each other after ages overlooking the other. Bridget carefully offers that if he were to stop by sometime that would be nice, marking a moment where she makes herself vulnerable to someone who is actually straightforward with her, and itting to them that she is also honestly interested. It's from here on out that the movie begins to really take on the quality of a romantic film, rather than one full of unfortunate sexual mishaps.
If Staying Here Means Working Within Ten Yards Of You, Frankly, I'd Rather Have A Job Wiping Saddam Hussein's Arse
After being horribly rejected by Daniel and then further finding out that he is with someone else, Bridget finally draws the line and stands up for herself, stating in front of the entire office that she is quitting. This moment is a powerful one for Bridget, where she uses her humor and what is often considered her vulgar way of speaking to stand up for herself and dismiss shame.
Absolutely Enormous Panties
A classic moment in the film, this line comes when Daniel discovers the large panties that Bridget has worn on their date. The instance carries so much comedic value because of an earlier scene, iconically known from the film, when Bridget sits wondering which panties to wear and chooses the more ridiculous option.
It Doesn't Help That Underneath Our Clothes Our Entire Bodies Are Covered In Scales
The film is hyper-focused on a woman trying to gain validation through romantic relations with men, but it also has its moments where it acknowledges the absurd pressure that society puts on women to find a partner and settle down.
Bridget comments on how women are treated as outcasts when they hit a certain age and remain single, speaking the truth to a table of coupled people who weren't prepared for her to question the status quo.
It Is A Truth Universally Acknowledged That When Part Of Your Life Starts Going Okay, Another Falls Spectacularly To Pieces
In her typical dramatic flair, Bridget shares a sarcastic acknowledgment of the difficulties of life even in the face of something going someone's way. While the film could come off as defeatist in this way, what makes it so successful is that each dark observation is charged with humor which suggests that, even in tragedy, one will soldier on and not be defeated.
Where The F*ck Is The F*cking Tuna?
Bridget's classic sense of humor strikes through time and time again, this time in the case of her cooking in her kitchen in an attempt to prove herself a sophisticated adult who can host a dinner party for her friends. Her animated coarseness and swearing come by this point as a sort of comfort, a signature marker of who Bridget is, and how that isn't going to change.
I Was Just Buying You A New One
One of the most romantic parts of the movie is when Mark, after reading Bridget's diary, disappears from her flat--leaving her thinking that he's gone for good, when in fact he was just out buying her a brand new diary, becoming an offering of a new start for them both and making the movie truly romantic, even for those who are tempted to root against romance the whole time.
