This movie is somewhat elegantly done. Somewhat. The beginning was very true to the book, including quotes and similar, and even improves on some elements (Darcy's embarrassing shirt was a Christmas reindeer rather than just diamonds). Handwriting is placed over the screen and is always funny, and includes Bridge's obsession with her weight and how many cigarettes she's smoked, and alcohol she's consumed. As the movie progresses, it slowly parts further and further from the book, as is necessary for the change in medium. However, I was disappointed in what was dropped out of the story. As it departs the source material, it approaches the tried movie cliche that is the "chick flick". It doesn't continue to put hand-writing up on the screen and it doesn't convey Bridge's obsession with her weight and such.
The book was nice because it was not the formula. The movie disappoints. It ignores Bridget's friends, turning them into three heads who act the same character. Refusing to give any background on them at all (in better cases) and changing them into drones (poor Shazzer...) There is also very little about Bridget's mother.
In my opinion, one of these side stories should have been kept: her relationship with her friends, or her crazy mother. But neither fruits anything.
The one thing this movie has are two beaus and it can keep the viewer guessing which Bridget will fall for. (The behind-the-scene joke of Mark Darcy being the same actor as Mr. Darcy is great, too.) But in the end, it is "Only slightly more than the chick-flick formula".
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