Does anyone see this as a kind of snapshot of contemporary life - like Ab Fab?  

I do actually agree, but I hope people watching it in say 50 years time realise it's a joke and we weren't really that extreme! Though the kind of stuff you see in ab fab does happen in the UK (us british women like a drink and some of us like a joint ) We aren't as bad as eddie and Patsy! They are like an exaggerated pantomime version of it which is why it's so funny.
I also have always had a problem with Bridget Jones, as it's not very feminist is it? She has a great job and her own flat she bought herself, but all she can do is whine about not having a boyfriend! And she's SO desperate to get one too it's actually quite sad. She's not a good character to be held up as an icon like she has been. The original author of the book is quite angry about it herself, it was meant to be a joke we were supposed to laugh at how desperate she is. But as it turned out thousands of women want to be her! I read the author was angry they cast an American as Bridget when they made the movie too. I think a lot of people were Renee Zellweger is such a drippy actress too, it ruined it for me, I read the book but have never watched the film