In Renee Zellweger’s newest film, Briget Jones’s Diary, she plays the film’s namesake, a pathetic 30-something who is hopelessly addicted to nicotine and alcohol.

The Diary documents her struggle to become independent of such habits as she stumbles out of her meaningless rut of a love life.

When not accompanied by her three amazingly devoted fellow chain-smoking friends, she wallows in her own self-pitty.

The turning point arises when she experiences an extremely embarrassing ordeal at her mother’s annual curry turkey Christmas dinner.

After she is horribly turned down by a man sadly sporting a reindeer jumper, whom her mother had wanted to set her up with, she realizes she must make a change in her life.

She imagines that if she does not, she will eventually wind up as a spinster living on the streets, competing with a pack of wild dogs for survival.

In order to combat this inevitably lonesome existence, she vows to find a man with whom to share her life. As she belts out Aretha’s R-E-S-P-E-C-T, she formulates a plan of action to attain her dreamy aspirations.

Her list of goals consists of: shedding at least 15 pounds, quitting smoking and ending her battle with the bottle.

She adds to the list the goal to terminate the adoration she holds for her boss (Hugh Grant), who easily plays a scum-bag womanizer.

However, she is fighting a battle her heart against her heart because she sprints to work every morning in racy attire, in order to spark the interest of her love enemy.

So, naturally, from the start the film’s story line seems like one just about anyone could relate to. Surely, the plot seems as though it would be an interesting one. However, the content of the film is weak and drags on without fulfilling any of the expectations that the previews inspire.

It could hardly be argued that Bridget Jones’ Diary appears in its numerous previews as a shocking in-your-face comedy spiced with a touch of romance. Therefore, one may easily expect some laugh-out-loud humor.

However, the film cannot brag much in that department. It can only boast of infrequent chuckles and an occasional drop of the jaw.

As for the aspect of romance, the film flips from one man, her boss, to the author Colin Firth. As a result, one is left bored and just half-heartedly waiting for her to decide which one she will choose.

On the other hand, Zellweger plays her character well, as she always does. The same goes for the rest of the cast, Grant (Notting Hill) and Firth (Shakespeare in Love and The English Patient) included.

To sum it up, it is not much of a hit as far as a comedy goes. The acting is good, but unimpressive and the film makes for a dreary atmosphere.

The ending is not worth the wait since it does not really amount to much. B-