Oscar winner Renée Zellweger has packed on the pounds, adapted a British accent and has opened "Bridget Jones's Diary" again.

"Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" picks up where "Bridget Jones's Diary" left off. Jones is still in a relationship with successful barrister Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), she's still working as a television journalist and still dealing with self-confidence issues.

Bridget thinks her life is perfect, but those pesky insecurities keep getting in the way. She has suspicions that Darcy and his co-worker Rebecca (Jacinda Barrett) — a beautiful, thin and smart woman — are having an affair. Daniel Cleaver's (Hugh Grant) intrusion into Jones' work life as a special correspondent increases her relationship doubts, especially when they are forced together on an assignment in exotic Thailand.

The characters whom fans have come to love are even better this time around. Jones is now an adoring girlfriend who wants to be taken seriously by one and all. However, she is more likely to embarrass herself and wallow in self-doubt than anything else.

Darcy is still as serious and deadpan as before, but he does show his sensitive side. There is a bump in the road of love and he will draw ire from the audience. Always the hero, he makes up for it in the end.

Cleaver is still arrogant and horny, but he is trying to change his ways. He says he is in "shag therapy," which doesn't seem to be effective. He still has an odd fetish for Jones' granny panties.

"The Edge of Reason" has it all: sex, drugs, witty insults, jail time, marriages, love triangles and more. It's the perfect follow-up to the first movie.

Jones does teach the audience a few lessons: if you're going to make a dirty phone call to your boyfriend make sure you're not on speakerphone; and Madonna and a bra can help get you through any situation.

"Diary" had situations where the audience felt embarrassed for Jones, and "Reason" is no different. There are times when the audience will cringe and wish Jones would shut her mouth or at least think before she speaks.

The animosity between Cleaver and Darcy runs high once again, and of course a physical fight ensues. The music adds some comedy to the scene, the first movie had them fighting to "It's Raining Men" by Geri Halliwell and this time The Darkness' "I Believe in a Thing Called Love."

The cast, especially the three leads — Zellweger, Grant and Firth — have grown into their characters. Each help add a little something to the plot line and the way their lines are delivered add to the hilarity of the movie itself.

The movie proves it is not just any chick flick, but instead a mix of romance, drama and comedy.

Grade: A