In theaters

BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON, directed by Beeban Kidron, written by Andrew Davies, Helen Fielding, Richard Curtis and Adam Brooks, based on the novel by Fielding, 108 minutes, rated R.

In the new Bridget Jones movie, “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason,” Renee Zellweger is back as Bridget, a full-figured wreck of a career girl who still has fears of spinsterhood, still smokes too many cigarettes, still makes an ass out of herself in public, and still has problems with the two men who chased her in the first movie.

Foremost is Colin Firth’s Mark Darcy, a human-rights barrister and former childhood playmate of Bridget’s who once found her to be verbally incontinent before ultimately claiming to like her just the way she is – wobbly bits and all. Now they are six weeks into an uneasy relationship, one complicated by Bridget’s exasperating self-doubt, which teeters on paranoia.

Second is Bridget’s former boss, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), a rakish lout who has joined Bridget in becoming something of a television star. Whenever he can, he shamelessly hits on her.

With Bridget uncertain about Mark’s love for her, she is, to say the least, a handful to deal with. On paper, that seems to mirror the tone of the first film, but here, with director Beeban Kidron taking the reins from former director, Sharon Maguire, it actually strikes quite a different note.

What was once an endearing, witty glimpse into the harrowing world of dating for Rubenesque, 30-something women, has become a carnival of human neuroses that deserves its own sideshow.

The first movie was a post-feminist take on Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” with broad nods to Silvio Narizzano’s “Georgy Girl” and P.J. Hogan’s “Muriel’s Wedding.” It was about Bridget Jones coming to terms with the real enemy in her life – Bridget Jones – while working hard to do something about it.

“The Edge of Reason” is about Bridget Jones being ransacked by a comedic series of pratfalls as she works through her problems, all of which are brought on by herself.

Some of the pratfalls are funny – Bridget jumping out of a plane and landing in a pigsty, Bridget applying too much makeup after a dicey cab ride through the city, Bridget attempting to ski and failing spectacularly. But the idea that the film generates its laughter solely by humiliating Bridget for her size isn’t wit; it’s just lazy writing that’s ironic.

The movie is supposed to be about championing the regular-sized girl, when what it really does is make her look like a fool who constantly must be consoled by others. Is this progression? The filmmakers don’t seem to care that it isn’t, and “The Edge of Reason” earns its title.

Grade: C

On video and DVD

HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, directed by Alfonso Cuaron, written by Steve Kloves, 136 minutes, rated PG.

In “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” the childlike whimsy of the two previous Potters is dead, replaced by an encroaching loss of innocence and a foreboding sense of darkness. The result? A new punch of life for the series.

Bleeding into every corner of this accomplished third installment in J.K. Rowling’s popular run of novels is a greater presence of evil. That may make for less jaunty entertainment, but it also makes for greater measures of depth and intrigue.

As directed by Alfonso Cuaron, the film opens with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) once again off to Hogwarts, where he learns that Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) – imprisoned for helping Lord Voldemort kill Harry’s parents – has escaped from Azkaban prison and might be out to kill Harry.

Worse for Harry is that Azkaban’s prison guards, the Dementors, have taken to the skies in an effort to find Black. This naturally leads them to Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), who must rely on themselves and on each other to survive the impending doom.

Several new characters add zest to the mix – Emma Thompson as bumbling professor Sybil Trelawney, David Thewlis as mysterious professor Lupin and Timothy Spall as Peter Pettigrew. Also giving the film a lift is the Hippogriff, a grand, mythical cross between a horse and a griffin. Harry’s first flight with the beast is the movie at its best, an exhilarating high point matched only by a stormy game of Quidditch.

Michael Gambon’s dry turn as professor Albus Dumbledore gives the movie its unexpected, bittersweet undercurrent. Gambon took over the role for Richard Harris, who died three weeks before the last film’s release. He’s just right here, a nice addition to a cast of characters charged with the hell that is their adolescence, with no recourse but a handful of spells – and a helpful dose of time travel – to see them through it.

Grade: A-

Christopher Smith is the Bangor Daily News film critic. His reviews appear Mondays and Fridays in Style, 5:30 p.m. Thursdays on WLBZ 2 Bangor and WCSH 6 Portland, and are archived at RottenTomatoes.com. He may be reached at BDNFilm1@aol.com.