“Whoops!”

This was the title of a horrible early ’90s FOX sitcom, but it could have easily been the title for “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason,” a film more interested in the ridiculous embarrassments of its main character than promoting any sort of change in her.

“Bridget Jones’ Diary,” the first film in this saga, prided itself on being unique. It was a dating movie for people who suffered through dating. While watching the film, viewers could identify with the characters, having gone through some of the same things or known people with experiences just like them.

There were countless little moments in the original film that promoted a soft laugh – like super-stud Mark Darcy’s (Colin Firth) Christmas sweaters. These horrific monstrosities were pathetically tacky, but they brought forth a subtle kindness in Darcy’s character. While most of us wouldn’t be caught dead in such a getup, we recognize it takes a real man to choke down his pride and put on such a sweater for the sake of putting a smile on his mother’s face.

“The Edge of Reason” is completely void of these moments. All of the original, snappy dialogue from the original film is gone. We’re left with Bridget (the again plump Renee Zelwegger) constantly falling down, getting soaked, walking in on something that appears to be something it’s not and plopping down in a pile of pig excrement.

I hadn’t really thought about how dumb this story was until I had to sit down and write about it. Bridget and Mark are now dating from the end of the first film, and Bridget is constantly insecure. She is told by a friend that Mark is cheating on her with a sexy young lady – one she spotted Mark taking into his apartment.

Instead of going to Mark’s apartment, knocking on the door and civilly talking to him about what’s up, Bridget decides the best thing to do is to climb onto the roof and peep through the windows. Of course she can only see weird, obstructed angles of what’s going on – Mark taking off his tie and this mysterious woman laying down on a bunch of cushions.

This can only mean one thing – he’s guilty! She runs to the door, knocks and charges her way in. Before she can get out her last word about how nasty Mark is, she stumbles upon a business meeting with all of Mark’s co-workers present.

OK, as an audience member, I’m willing to give the benefit of the doubt that there are really dumb people out there who would find themselves in such an awkward, senseless situation. But to find themselves in more than eight of these situations in a year should lead to some serious counseling.

This also leads to some really interesting lessons in screenwriting. When the lead conflict in your film can be solved by a character asking another a straight question – Are you cheating on me? – you have a serious problem with your script. When you find your main character locked up in a Thai prison leading a group of female inmates in a rousing rendition of “Like a Virgin,” you should really consider a career change.

“Bridget Jones’ Diary” did not insult its audience nearly as much as its sequel. It played us for smart people tired of the traditionally stupid romantic comedy. I can just picture Bridget Jones writing a piece in her diary mocking a movie like “Edge of Reason.” This is not the worst movie of all time, but it’s so much worse than its predecessor that it warrants a stern warning.

But if you find yourself dying for a second helping of Bridget Jones, please stay away from the theater. Rent the original and watch it twice.