"Bridget Jones's Diary" is based on the novel by Helen Fielding. Based on? The differences between the book and movie are a slightly different sub-plot, shift in plot emphasis, side characters wantonly tossed by the wayside and American actress Renee Zellweger playing the thirtysomething British title heroine. Apparently, the English were quite upset over the casting of Zellweger in what they viewed as their territory,

Obviously, this movie was not meant to be a serious romance. The situational comedy of the novel becomes romantic comedy on-screen, as reflected in the movie posters: saucy Bridget (Zellweger) flanked by skanky but very sexy boss Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) and intriguingly aloof Mark Darcy (Colin Firth).

Fans of the books expected to see the rest of Bridget's life, which still exists, albeit with less prominence than in the novel. Her mum (Gemma Jones) up and leaves her father (Jim Broadbent) for a shot at stardom, modeling jewelry on the Home Shopping Network. Her friends show up to booze, smoke, gossip and laugh with and at her. Her woes include run-ins with Smug Marrieds and family friends.

The essence of the story lies with Bridget as a person, and Zellweger does an excellent job with the role. She looks, acts and is the Bridget Jones that Fielding wrote about. There are a few tonal changes throughout the movie, but her accent isn't bad.

Zellweger successfully personifies the lovable disaster Bridget: she blurts out whatever is on her mind, lip-syncs with maudlin pathos to the '80s anthem "All By Myself" to an accompanying bottle of vodka, and unthinkingly answers the phone as "Bridget Jones, wanton sex goddess with a very bad man between her thighs" when her mother calls.

The love elements of the movie are great, buoyed by strong male support. As Cleaver, Grant is mercifully free from the stammers and blinking he usually employs. He is attractive in that asshole sort of way: he drinks, is refreshingly un-PC ("I like your tits in that top") and directly goes about hitting on women. Colin Firth, in a casting coup as Mark Darcy, plays a fictional character inspired (both physically and personality-wise) by his own performance as Mr. Darcy in the BBC's "Pride and Prejudice."

Like a typical romantic comedy, "Bridget" ends with a couple kissing to the strains of the song "Someone Like You" by Dina Carroll. However, it is genuinely funny throughout, is more than just a love story, isn't stupidly predictable and has a heroine you empathize with and love. The differences between the movie and book only help strengthen this delightful film.