Movie Reviews Special: Bridget Jones

By Alex Wiggan

And just like that, another Movie Reviews Special lands at your feet. For those keeping track, that’s three Specials this month: The 1990 Box Office Top Five, the Fantastic Four movie series, and now this one!

And what is the subject of this latest edition of Movie Reviews Special? Why, it’s all about Bridget Jones!

A new Bridget Jones movie has just arrived in UK cinemas, and you can read all about it below. You can also play catch-up with the previous instalments too!

This edition of Movie Reviews Special includes reviews for Bridget Jones’s Diary, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Bridget Jones’s Baby, and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.

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Now streaming…

Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)

First up, in Bridget Jones’s Diary, Bridget Jones is a 32-year-old single gal living in London. By day, Bridget works as a publicity assistant at a prestigious publishing company, while by night she spends her evenings watching episodes of Frasier, knocking back glasses of wine and chugging on ciggies.

However, when it comes to her love life, Bridget is less than routine. In fact, the only recurring aspect of Bridget’s love life is her lack of a boyfriend.

The furthest she’s got lately is to fantasise about her boss, dashing Daniel Cleaver. But even if Daniel was interested in being more than a fantasy figure, is an office romance a good idea?

Bridget isn’t sure. But she is interested to find out.

Meanwhile, Bridget’s mother is keen to set her daughter up with barrister, Mark Darcy – a childhood acquaintance who Bridget believes to be arrogant. But is Mark the complete arse she thinks he is?

One thing’s for certain, Bridget now has two men in her life and this is more problematic than she ever imagined. Especially since Daniel and Mark hate each other.

Directed by Sharon Maguire, Bridget Jones’s Diary stars Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Jim Broadbent, and Gemma Jones. The movie is a British romantic comedy based on Helen Fielding’s book of the same name (which itself is loosely inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice), and is the first entry in the Bridget Jones movie series.

Bridget Jones’s Diary is also a hilariously funny, wonderfully charming picture, with a superb cast, a sizzling script, and a brilliant soundtrack. A seriously brilliant soundtrack in fact, which brings together the likes of Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Geri Halliwell, and The Pretenders, amongst others.

But perfect pop tunes aside, Bridget Jones’s Diary is an absolute treat of a film. The story is fun, all of the gags land as intended, and the love triangle between Bridget, Daniel, and Mark is marvellously executed.

At the heart of the film are the three central performances from Zellweger, Grant, and Firth, who all deliver outstanding turns. Grant is excellent as the foppish rogue Daniel, while Firth is pitch perfect as the strait-laced Mark.

However, it’s Zellweger who steals the film as the unlucky in love, Bridget. With plenty of girl-next-door charm, and fake British accent in place (Zellweger is from Texas), the actress is an absolute delight in the part.

When Zellweger was initially cast in the role, it caused a fair bit of controversy, with various commentators throwing their thoughts and opinions into the ring. But once the film opened, Zellweger blew everyone away and was nominated for a slew of accolades, including a BAFTA and an Academy Award.

Ultimately she came away with a Screen Actors Guild Award, which was completely deserved and not too shabby at all. More importantly it socked it to the naysayers, which is always a brilliant result.

If for any reason you’ve overlooked Bridget Jones’s Diary (you fool), stick it on your playlist posthaste! If the romance doesn’t grab you, the comedy will certainly tickle a rib or two, and then there’s Zellweger, Firth, and Grant.

Sure, a couple of elements of the film may seem a little outdated to modern audiences (namely the baffling notion Bridget is overweight), but if you want a trip back to 2001, and you want it to be fun, you’ll surely get it here. You’ll also get a rip roarin’ good time too.

Should you wish to spend time in the company of Bridget Jones’s Diary (and you do), the movie is currently streaming on NOW in the UK.

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Now streaming…

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)

After an excellent start, which would be difficult to top, the Bridget Jones film series takes a bit of a stumble for this next entry, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. All of the key actors are back (Zellweger, Firth, Grant, Broadbent, Jones, etc), and the soundtrack is loaded with more head bopping pop songs to keep things sprightly, but unfortunately the story doesn’t quite work as well this time around.

With Bridget and Mark living their happily ever after, and Daniel kicked to the curb, The Edge of Reasonsets out to cause the happy couple problems through a series of mishaps and arguments. Daniel is then brought back into the mix to create further disharmony, while a trip to Thailand throws another spanner in the works for Bridget.

Will Bridge and Mark overcome their problems and get their romance back on track, or will she end up with love-rat Daniel? Erm… I think we all know the answer to this one.

Directed by Beeban Kidron, and based on Helen Fielding’s sequel novel of the same name, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason is an entirely watchable film, with some decent moments. So, if you simply want some easy viewing and don’t require any major surprises, the film certainly caters accordingly.

Yet despite being acceptable entertainment, which is fine if you take it for what it is, the film does struggle with one very pressing problem which it can’t escape: What do you do next when your lead character already has her perfect ending? It is a problem The Edge of Reason wrestles with for almost two hours, as it attempts to tease the notion Bridget and Mark might not make it.

It’s a notion no one is really buying into, but the movie explores regardless, and this means two hours of faffing about for no real reason. The end result is plenty of filler to get from A to the inevitable B, and a story that is mostly underwhelming.

Terrible? No. But certainly nothing stellar.

Ultimately, while Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason isn’t awful, and it is a perfectly serviceable film, it feels very much like a typical sequel. The best bits are rehashes of what came before, while the new material feels less than the sum of its parts, and it never seems like it has anything to say.

However, the sticking point with Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason is that irrespective of the redundant or weaker parts, it lacks the warmth of the original. It is there in fits and starts at the beginning, and comes around again toward the end, but the magic gets lost in the middle, meaning this film pales in comparison to its predecessor.

Had this been the second and final entry in the series, it would feel like a poor follow-up. With this being the next chapter in the series, it mostly just plays like a weaker instalment that is best being whizzed through to get to the next one.

Anyway, for those wanting to take a look, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason is currently streaming on NOW in the UK.

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Now streaming…

Bridget Jones’s Baby (2016)

Onto the third entry in the Bridget Jones film series now, Bridget Jones’s Baby. Any guesses as to what this film could be about?

Yep, it’s mostly about the arrival of a baby! Oh, and things still aren’t running smoothly in Bridget’s life.

In fact, her happily ever after has fallen by the wayside once more. Five years ago she split from Mark Darcy, who in turn has moved on and married, and Bridget’s life has stalled.

To make matters worse, Bridge is back in her old flat living the life of a lonely spinster, and former boss and former lover, Daniel Cleaver has seemingly died in a plane crash. And if all that wasn’t enough, she has just turned forty-ruddy-three!

Clearly not happy with any of this, but keen to cheer herself up, Bridget and her gal-pal Miranda head to a festival to embrace what Miranda believes are the best parts of being single. Basically she is there to drink, sh*g, and have a carefree time and she dives in wholeheartedly, sleeping with a stranger named Jack in the process.

A couple of days later, Bridget is back home and attending a christening, where she crosses paths with Mark Darcy. One thing leads to another, Mark informs Bridget he is in the midst of a divorce, and they sleep together.

A few weeks pass and Bridget discovers she is pregnant. But with her sexploits with Jack and Mark happening around the same time she isn’t quite sure who the father of her baby is.

Directed by Sharon Maguire (who returns to the director’s chair fifteen years after Bridget Jones’s Diary), Bridget Jones’s Baby stars Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Patrick Dempsey, Jim Broadbent, Gemma Jones, and Emma Thompson. The movie is currently available to stream on NOW in the UK, and is a step in the right direction for the series after the middling second film.

OK, so Bridget Jones’s Baby is not quite on the same level as the original, but it’s certainly travelling down a similar path. The reason for this is because the movie finally has something interesting to hook its story onto, namely Bridget’s unplanned pregnancy.

It’s a pregnancy at the age of 43, which according to Bridget’s doctor will make her a “geriatric mother”. This seems an extreme term, but having a baby in her 40s gives the narrative somewhere to go so let’s run with it.

The pregnancy plot thread is also far more interesting than what was dished up in The Edge of Reason. Especially when you throw in the confusion over the father.

Should the two potential fathers in the film be Mark and Daniel, rather than Mark and Jack? Perhaps, but the film wisely opts for a new character rather than bringing back an old, unsuitable option.

After all, the womanising Daniel Cleaver would simply not make a good father, now would he? It would seem odd for Bridget to want him in this role.

By introducing Jack, the film has someone shiny and new for Bridget, and more importantly a guy who can be a seemingly decent father for her child. Under these circumstances, this creates a better rivalry between Mark and Jack, and there’s a lot more fun to be had as the two clash.

Outside of the pregnancy shenanigans and the father drama, there’s some humorous moments to be found in Bridget’s job; one or two chuckles with her parents; and some amusing interactions with Bridget’s doctor, played by Emma Thompson. The film also benefits from the return of all the key players (minus Hugh Grant), and there’s the usual crop of likeable pop songs on the soundtrack.

Put simply, all the stuff that has proven to work is back, while the story is much stronger this time around. Director Sharon Maguire recaptures the magic, Zellweger is on fine form as always, and Bridget Jones’s Baby is a likeable bundle of joy.

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In cinemas…

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (2025)

And finally, in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Bridget is now the mother of not one, but two children, Billy and Mabel. However, while life has brought her great joy, it has also brought great tragedy.

Four years ago, Bridget’s husband Mark was killed in Sudan. Since this time, Bridge has been bringing up her children in North London, with some help from her friends, including former lover, Daniel Cleaver (he didn’t actually die in the previous film).

But Bridget’s status as a single Pringle is short lived. Between Tinder and mum duties, she’s caught the attention of some new admirers, including school teacher Mr. Wallaker, and boy-toy Roxster.

However, is Bridget really ready to replay the dating game? She’s not entirely sure. Mark was the love of her life and it certainly feels like happiness may now be forever out of reach.

Directed by Michael Morris, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy stars Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, Gemma Jones, Emma Thompson, Leo Woodall, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. The film is based on Helen Fielding’s novel of the same name and is the fourth and reportedly final instalment in the movie series.

Will it actually be the final chapter in Bridget’s ever-expanding diary? Only time and box office receipts will tell, but it sure feels like this is a stopping point.

Pretty much all the key cast are back in some way, shape, or form, and it does play like a final lap. Bridget has spent decades searching for her happy ending and it might finally be here.

And the good news is, if this is the end, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is a highly enjoyable and frankly superb swan song. The film is an emotionally heartfelt picture, which looks at love and loss, handles ageing and grief brilliantly, and strives to remind audiences why we all fell for Bridget Jones-Darcy in the first place.

As with the original film and the third instalment, Mad About the Boy has an interesting hook for its story. This time around the hook is the death of Bridget’s beloved husband, Mark, and it’s a plot point which envelopes the whole film.

While on the surface Mad About the Boy might seem to be yet another tale about Bridget’s relationship woes, it is actually about much more. The movie is about bereavement and long-term grief, and how these things shape Bridget’s place in the world.

Mad About the Boy is also about motherhood, restarting the dating process in your 50s, and the friendships and connections she has made. The Bridget Jones films have built up a sizeable collection of side characters over the years, and it’s a joy to see how they still circle around Bridget as she moves through life.

Renée Zellweger continues to shine in the lead role, while Hugh Grant gives another brilliant performance as Daniel, and Colin Firth drops in briefly to add a bit of emotional weight as the deceased Mark. Meanwhile, newcomers Leo Woodall and Chiwetel Ejiofor are perfectly cast as Bridget’s new love interests, and all the old favourites (Broadbent, Jones, Thompson, etc) are present and correct.

The casting in this film series has always been tiptop and this fourth film doesn’t let the side down. In fact, Mad About the Boy doesn’t let anyone down at all.

This is the best Bridget sequel of them all. It understands the story it is telling, the tone it needs to take, and the emotions it is likely to produce as a result.

And there are emotions. There are also tears (you will need tissues), and there is the general sense that we are very much in grown-up adult territory for this final fling.

Over the course of four films, Bridget Jones has always been a relatable or at least recognisable character, who has aged in front of our eyes. In Mad About the Boy she is older, maybe a touch wiser, yet she’s still just the same ol’ Bridge, bumbling through and trying to make the best of things.

Does she always get it right? No, but this film certainly does.

It’s a great companion piece to the original, as well as a marvellous sequel. And let’s be honest, this is not something you can say about many fourth entries in a movie series.

Just be aware not to approach Mad About the Boy as a frothy rom-com, because that’s not what’s on offer here. Instead take this as a well-thought-out piece, which seems far more reflective of life and love, as well as the ageing process.

Should you wish to check in with Bridget for a fourth and final time (and you do), Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is now playing in UK cinemas. If you live in the US, you can catch the movie streaming on Peacock.

Movie Reviews Special: Bridget Jones

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