‘Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy’: Review

Dir. Michael Morris. UK. 2025. 124mins

Examine your cynicism on the gate for Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, an oddly comforting, leisurely, snufflingly nostalgic journey by nearly 1 / 4 of a century’s value of singleton antics. It’s a Working Title bonanza too, distilling the sentiment and construction created in 4 Weddings And A Funeral on as much as the current day, the place the gang is definitely older, slightly bit wiser, extra various and higher off for it. A roll name of British national-treasure-thespians accompany Renee Zellweger by what has been known as her closing lap, although it’s doable some surprising field workplace success may snap Bridget again into her large knickers once more.

An oddly comforting, leisurely, snufflingly nostalgic journey 

Helen Fielding, the creator of the supply materials and co-screenwriter right here (with Abi Morgan and Dan Mazer) has devised an episodic, mild car for brand spanking new franchise director Michael Morris (To Leslie) which wraps the viewer in heat waves. With a UK launch set for a advertising tie-in-friendly Valentine’s Day (however streaming within the US), cinema foyers haven’t been this pink since Barbie and advance-bookings recommend a tsunami. All of them wash up effectively: from Zellweger’s eternally wide-eyed naif to Hugh Grant’s louche Daniel Cleaver, Emma Thompson’s salty gynaecologist, mum and pop (Gemma Jones and Jim Broadbent), and past. Becoming a member of them are a completely charming Chiwetel Ejiofor and Leo Woodall, good sports activities each, although by no means positioned in any direct rivalry for Bridget’s hand.

Which brings up the query of why Bridget’s stated hand is just not nonetheless being held by Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), her husband, father of her two babies, and vanquisher of caddish love rat Daniel Cleaver. The movie will get his dying – well-publicised from the discharge of the e book, again in 2013 – out of the way in which in its first moments. And maybe the lengthy delay between the e book’s publication, the repeated makes an attempt to set the movie up and Covid-19-led delays have been for the very best. The lack of Fielding’s personal accomplice, which impressed the e book, additionally informs this movie, giving even probably the most frivolous moments some surprising – and wanted – resonance.

Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is each extra and fewer than an excellent movie. One lady, two males, three acts is a tried and trusted method, however this can be a particular case for a technology of newspaper and e book readers and viewers who simply desire a completely satisfied ending for a personality they view as a good friend – and don’t thoughts a structurally-loose, tension-free, nearly TV-like journey to get there. Within the practically 30 years since Bridget Jones’ Diary was first written, Bridget has misplaced a few of her identifiable traits: she’s given up the cigs, is now not a calorie counter and prefers the odd cocktail to a bucket of chardonnay. Grant’s Daniel Cleaver has additionally mellowed in some methods, though his present date is in her 20s and known as Jeminizer. Bridget’s posse, led as at all times by Shazza (Sally Phillips), are nonetheless her most fervent supporters, however even they’re flummoxed about the way to deal with a good friend who continues to be in such ache, 4 years after Mark Darcy’s dying.

So gently, very gently, and with a really loveable spirit, Bridget is eased out of her pyjamas and her unfeasibly giant Hampstead dwelling and again into the workforce. Within the spirit of the unique Bridget, nonetheless, she does discover romance whereas both embarrassingly caught up a tree (with Hampstead Heath’s sexiest groundsman Roxster, performed by Woodall), or saying the incorrect factor on the varsity run/Outward Certain journey (with Ejiofor’s uptight-but-sexy science instructor Mr Walliker). Her lovable kids could also be pining for his or her father, however this can be a Working Title movie so there’s loads of cash for a nanny (Nico Parker), an AOR belter soundtrack (Fashionable Love doesn’t come low cost), and a London that’s drenched in film magic, from a date in Borough Market to the Bridget hallmark of lashings of Christmas (making certain Love Really will get an excellent run for its cash on British terrestrial TV). It’s all so acquainted and cozy and on-brand for movie UK you nearly think about Paddington will come lumbering round a nook, trailed by Nanny McPhee and the forged of Nativity. 

Whereas its stunning innocence is what makes this movie interesting, the franchise continues to be dependably cheeky thanks largely to Hugh Grant. Grizzled ‘Uncle Daniel’ has Bridget in his cellphone as ‘Soiled Bitch’, and acts as a beloved babysitter whereas not driving up and down the King’s Highway in a sportscar. Audiences will adore him. Bringing Michael Morris in to direct whereas Fielding and Zellweger are listed as government producers and the returning forged and crew are all so comfy collectively may have been uneasy, however the TV director, whose debut For Leslie was Oscar-nominated, shows a fluid hand. It’s as much as him to verify the timing and supply of the wet-shirt tribute is ideal; it alone is definitely worth the value of admission, and that’s not simply due to Woodall’s six-pack. Whereas Roxster is considerably youthful than Bridget – a lot so, he ghosts her – the writers, and Woodall, discover dignity within the character. Ejiofor can also be effectively forged as Working Title’s first Black male romantic lead. He has the gravitas, but additionally the pecs, to go chest-to-chest with Woodall.

Bridget Jones has at all times been a threeway. There’s Bridget, gamely doing her greatest, and Zellweger continues to carry the present along with Mary Poppins-like grit. With Mark Darcy lifeless and beloved dangerous boy Daniel lastly getting some – small – shred of dignity, Mad About The Boy may have felt empty, with Ejiofor and Woodall struggling to fill some very large boots. However Firth and Grant are ringing the altering of the guard right here, reminding us of the passing of time and, sure, the significance of affection, truly. Pack a hanky.