REEL CRITICS

Laugh with the fabulous ‘Bridget Jones’

“Bridget Jones’s Diary” is an English comedy with proficient actors.

There were stories of unrest among the Brits, who questioned lead actress

Renee Zellweger’s ability to carry off the part, but rest assured they

had no cause for concern. As Bridget, she is fabulous.

There are parallel stories dealing with the attitudes of married

friends toward their single counterparts. Then there are the singletons

and how they view themselves, trying to make themselves over to please

someone new in their lives.

Most of the action is centered in a publishing house with Hugh Grant

and Colin Firth as the male leads. Grant is Bridget’sboss. Firth is the

man her mother wants to set her up with. The dialogue is clear, the humor

kind and on focus.

We come to relate to each of their desires for acceptance and respect.

Bridget has the added load of a mum and a dad who are at odds with

each other.

This is a laugh-out-loud film I hope you’ll enjoy. At the end, you

read on the screen “The End,” which is immediately crossed out to read

“The Beginning.” Don’t leave. There is a charming epilogue that really

caps off the film.

o7 “Bridget Jones’s Diary” is rated R for language and some strong

sexuality.f7

* ELAINE ENGLAND, 65, lives in Newport Beach and owns a gift-basket

business she operates out of her home.

Less substance than polish in ‘Panic’

“Panic” is the feature film debut of writer-director Henry Bromell,

who was formerly a contributor to two of television’s finest offerings

within the last 10 years: “Homicide: Life on the Street” and “Northern

Exposure.”

In “Panic,” Bromell has written a film noir-ish story set in sunny

California.

“Panic” is the story of what happens to Alex (William H. Macy) when

his world ceases to hold any meaning for him. For Alex has been trained

since childhood by his father, Michael (Donald Sutherland), to be a hit

man. Alex’s recent midlife crisis has lead him to visit therapist Josh

(John Ritter) and to contemplate quitting the only job and lifestyle he

really knows.

Alex’s unsuspecting wife (Tracey Ullman) has for years been lead to

believe that Alex has run a small mail-order business from home.

Alex’s therapy sessions enable him to meet Sara (Neve Campbell) whom

Alex starts having an affair with. Sara does not like being the mistress

but nevertheless goes along with the relationship because she, like Alex,

only has a limited number of mental options available to her.

“Panic” strives hard to be more than what it really is: a very

polished script with no real direction or epiphany. Bromell’s previous

work on “Homicide” and “Northern Exposure” obviously helped his

development as a writer and director as these previous serials’ tone,

pacing and direction are evident in every shot.

“Panic” boasts strong performances from Macy, Sutherland and Ullman.

The best surprise is Ritter’s portrayal of Josh the therapist. Ritter’s

performance follows his eye-opening portrayal in 1997’s “Sling Blade.”

Further kudos are reserved for Bromell’s cinematographer Jeffry Jur,

who lovingly lit the movie in homage to the great noir thrillers of the

1940s.

However, in light of all these great assets, “Panic” aims to be too

polished and too rigid in its portrayal of emotionally and intellectually

impotent and/or paralyzed people. The criticism of a polished script,

however, should be one many released films wish they suffered from.

o7 “Panic” is rated R for language and elements of violence.

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* ROB OROZCO, 29, is an attorney who lives in Newport Beach with his

wife and two cats.