Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new review! For this one, I’ll be taking a look at the latest and allegedly final entry in the Bridget Jones movie franchise. Based off of British writer, Helen Fielding’s, popular book series, the series first started in 2001 with Bridget Jones’s Diary and has since spawned three more entries in 2004, 2016, and now this year. The romantic comedy franchise, centered on the romantic life of the title character, has achieved immense popularity in the UK, with the movies being huge in that territory (less so in the US, hence why this is getting released straight to Peacock here). I myself had always been aware of them and their cast of notable British talent, but have never checked them out until just recently to get ready for this new entry. I enjoyed the series on the whole with the original being a great rom com, and the third, Bridget Jones’s Baby, being very enjoyable as well. The second installment, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, was a mixed bag for me as it had frustrating story elements, but had enough charm to make it watchable at least. Now we have this fourth entry, which is based off the third book in the series. Is it just as enjoyable as the better parts of the franchise? Let’s jump right in and see if Mad About the Boy is worth swooning over!
We follow a 51 year old Bridget Jones, now a mother to her young kids, Billy and Mabel, and facing all of the joys and frustrations that come with that occupation. 4 years after the death of her husband, Mark Darcy, she is still in grief regarding the situation and finds herself struggling to move on. After much thought however, Bridget decides to jump pack the thick of it and start fresh. This includes going back to working as a TV producer and go back into the dating world through the use of Tinder. Through this she then meets a handsome park ranger, named Roxster… who just so happens to be 29 years old. Despite that age gap, we get to see how that relationship develops as well as continuing to see how Bridget fares a mother, producer, and the relationships she has with other individuals.
With follow ups like these that follow the characters later in life at an older age, I’m always curious to see if they can maintain a balance in terms of maintaining what made the series work, while also acknowledging the passage of time in an interesting way. I thought the third installment did that quite well and honestly, I think Mad About the Boy is even more successful in that regard. I thought director, Michael Morris, did a very strong job in keeping the wit and charm that made the prior films such fun watches (give or take the issues of the second film). This is a very funny film with a script filled with clever jokes that commentate on how these characters would act in a modern setting with all of the advancements made, and not in a way that feels rote. Instead it fits with the characters and is able to add into what the movie has to say about dating in the modern age and the various complications that can arise in that regard, especially for those of an older age.
It is also able to work rather well as a mediation on grief and how difficult of a process it can be, where we see Bridget trying to move on from Mark’s death, even if it still sticks with her and how sometimes facing things may be the only way to fully cope with the issue. I appreciated just how honest it was and it wasn’t afraid to tackle some of the more darker areas of this topic. It also just has a lot of heart and soul to it, with the drama being compelling and I enjoyed seeing how the various relationships progressed. There’s even a great deal of emotion throughout with some scenes just packing an absolute punch that feel earned. My one main issue is that I do think, like the third installment, the film does run a little too long (over 2 hours) and it does feel it at times. This is especially true once we get to the end and we get a couple of false endings. Could’ve been a bit tighter, but it is still investing for the most part.
There’s a lot to appreciate about the franchise as a whole, but one reason that I think elevates them is that they are all very well made studio rom coms. That continues here as I felt this was another solidly made feature. I’ve always enjoyed the energy that is present when it comes to the feel of the film and how it is present in the editing, but that is toned down just a bit for this one given the serious subject matter at times. It works and honestly represents where Bridget is at in her life. Still there are some nice flourishes here and there that add to the proceedings and do a good job getting us into Bridget’s mind, such as seeing the people in Bridget’s life interacting with her, even though they aren’t there. Plus, like any good comedy the editing is nicely done and helps make the comedic moments all the more effective and the tonal balance is very well maintained as it never feels jarring going from the more silly moments to the serious scenes. Also, like the other movies, there are plenty of needle drops of recognizable songs, with them fitting in well and often times adding to the scene. There’s even a climactic rendition of one that I thought was very powerful and tugged at the heart strings.
Of course, what makes these movies truly shine is Renee Zellweger’s spirited and immensely charming performance as the titular character. Despite being older, she has not lost a beat, still having that fiery and energetic personality that has her usual sarcasm thrown in for good measure. Her comedic timing is on point and she is very strong when the dramatic moments come in, imbuing a lot of soul into this character and being able to capture all of the different emotions she is feeling. One can tell that she has been through a lot the last time we saw her and there is a bit of a world weariness and sense of grief that adds another layer to the character. It was also very interesting seeing her deal with the modern world of dating and learning more about it with her relationship with Roxster, played by Leo Woodall. Woodall is quite solid as the young love interest, even if he isn’t the most dynamic character. He still represents what Bridget wishes she could have again, even if their age gap isn’t the most ideal. This relationship is handled very well and thoughtfully, especially since it didn’t resort to cliches that could be common with this type of storyline. The other main player in this romance is Chiwetel Ejiofor as Mr. Scott Walliker, a science teacher at Bridget’s children’s school. Ejiofor is fantastic in the role, bringing so much charm, wit, wisdom, and emotion into the role as a strict but well meaning teacher. There’s just so much he conveys without saying anything and he has great chemistry with Zellweger and I like how they both come to learn from each other.
I also really liked the dynamic Bridget had with her children as I thought Zellweger brought such a nice warmth when she is playing a mother. Yes, she has her (understandable) frustrations with motherhood, but that doesn’t change the fact that she loves her children and wants to be the best mother possible. It helps that Kasper Knopf and Mila Jankovic are both quite good in their roles with the former especially getting some really heartwarming scenes. As far some as the rest of the supporting cast goes we have various returning faces that were welcome to see with each getting their time to shine and have a role to play in Bridget’s new life from Bridget’s overbearing mother, Pamela (Gemma Jones), to her anchorman friend, Miranda (Sarah Solemni), to her wonderfully sarcastic doctor, Dr. Rawlings (Emma Thompson), and more. It honestly is quite nice and served as a reminder of the impressive ensemble cast of characters this franchise has accumulated. I would have liked to have seen more from some of the newer additions with Nico Parker’s babysitter character, Chloe, having some nice moments and I liked the friendly rivalry dynamic she shared with Bridget, but she isn’t given as much screentime for her impact to be felt all that much. Stand out for me on the whole though was easily Hugh Grant as the slimy yet charismatic, Daniel Cleaver. I was actually surprised and delighted at how his return was handled as he is a man who still carries that charming persona, but at this point in his life, it is a mirage that covers a man who has many regrets in his life and wishes things could’ve turned out better. Grant plays all of these layers perfectly and it was nice to that he and Bridget have become close friends despite all that they went through together with him having some sweet interactions with her kids. Oh and while he is understandably not in the film that much, Colin Firth is utilized very well to a maximum emotional impact.
In all, I found Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy to be a wonderful finale to this delightful franchise. It runs a bit too long and could’ve spent some time developing certain characters, but it nonetheless works very well thanks to a thoughtful story, a lot of charm, poignant themes, solid craftsmanship, and some terrific performances. I think fans of the series will be very pleased as it delivers what one would want, while also going the extra mile in order to be about more than just about callbacks and seeing our favorite characters again. It honestly might be my favorite of the four films (either this or the first installment) as it has the charm and comedy and works the best at a dramatic level, which gave it a soul and heft that I frankly wasn’t expecting. It sticks the landing for this series and I for one really enjoyed checking these films out for the first time and seeing what Mrs. Jones had to say about life.
Rating: A-
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