I bear in mind studying Bridget Jones’s Diaries in some unspecified time in the future round when the unique film adaptation of Helen Fielding’s novel arrived in theaters. At the moment, the character was immediately iconic to my early grownup thoughts, and Renée Zellweger’s depiction of the relatable 30-something London singleton was perfection so far as I used to be (and nonetheless am) involved. It’s simple to see why the 2001 film would match properly on any record of the perfect romantic comedies of all time.
Whereas Fringe of Purpose possible wouldn’t make that record, I admit, I nonetheless have a spot in my coronary heart for it. As for Bridget Jones’s Child, I bear in mind pondering the 2016 movie was positive sufficient. All of that is to say, I’m a fan of the primary two books — I haven’t learn Mad About The Boy — and the movies, for probably the most half. However I used to be reluctant to look at Mad About The Boy, particularly after I noticed the trailer. Alas, curiosity (and love for this character) obtained the higher of me, and I watched it streaming with my Peacock subscription. I’m glad I did, as a result of it wasn’t what I anticipated.
Spoilers forward!
First, This is What I Anticipated…
In case you’ve seen the trailer for Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, it offers away the truth that Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) has died, and Bridget is now a single mom on the point of exploring romance once more. That in itself was sufficient to trigger me to hit the brakes. As a result of Bridget and Mark getting collectively was the entire level of not one, and even two, however three films, and now that is over?
I had two real issues about what to anticipate, the primary being that it is likely to be too unhappy to see Bridget grieving Mark, particularly after their story’s quite a few happily-ever-after endings.
The second was form of the opposite finish of the spectrum — I feared that Mark’s loss of life could be form of glossed over, and the film would handle it simply sufficient to clarify why Bridget is a single mother, earlier than specializing in extra of the comedic shenanigans we’ve come to know and love about her.
Don’t get me improper, I really like an excellent second act story. We’d like extra of these in films. However I actually wasn’t certain I used to be up for seeing this followup to Bridget and Mark’s love story. Both it might be too unhappy, or frankly, it wouldn’t be unhappy sufficient. Nicely… I used to be improper on each counts.
However This is What I Bought…
Like I mentioned, I haven’t learn Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, so I can’t communicate as to if this film is a trustworthy adaptation to Fielding’s novel. What I can say is that the film is a trustworthy followup to the spirit of the unique movies. What’s extra, it actually isn’t a rehashing of what we’ve seen earlier than, nor did it emotionally wreck me. Oh, I cried, however extra on that later.
(And right here’s the place I drop a last spoiler warning, as a result of I’m about to get into some specifics in regards to the plot of the film, so if you happen to haven’t seen it but, I recommend you cease studying now.)
Whereas Mad About The Boy does have an emphasis on Bridget’s grief, the story doesn’t choose up instantly after Mark’s loss of life, so there’s been a while for Bridget and her two youngsters to maneuver ahead in a life. Mark’s absence is undoubtedly felt, but it surely’s not the jarring, uncooked form of grief that comes with a sudden and up to date loss.
Along with Mark’s absence, Bridget is getting again on the market. The trailers and promos I’d seen form of implied that there are three males in consideration for Bridget’s subsequent romance — Leo Woodall’s younger and dreamy Roxster, Chiwetel Ejiofor’s brainy Scott Walliker (Bridget’s son’s instructor), and Hugh Grant’s ever-flirty Daniel Cleaver.
I used to be relieved that Daniel was by no means actually within the working as a potential suitor for Bridget on this film. I don’t assume I may’ve gotten my head round a second-chance romance between these two within the wake of Mark’s loss of life. However I completely love the function Daniel performs in Bridget’s life now, as a detailed buddy to her and her youngsters. Grant stays good on this function, and the film did his character justice. However, he’s not Bridget’s new boyfriend, so let’s transfer on.
I loved the tales surrounding the 2 precise romantic pursuits — Roxster and Scott. I additionally appreciated that there was by no means a lot of a love-triangle occurring, as Bridget’s relationship with Roxster wraps up earlier than something actually will get began with Scott. Each relationships matter, as Roxster brings Bridget out of her shell, and Scott… properly, he seems to be simply who Bridget wants and deserves (and vice versa).
I Laughed…
If the film’s intention was to indicate our Bridget rising to the problem of being a single mother seeking love, it nails it. Each little bit of the comedy feels adjusted to match who Bridget is at this level in her life, which I completely liked.
From the sight of Bridget getting caught in a tree whereas making an attempt to assist her children, to the reactions of the get together company as her new beau slow-mo emerges from a pool sporting a moist, white shirt, to the banter Bridget shares together with her co-workers, her buddies, and/or her gynecologist (performed by Emma Thompson), to so many different nice scenes, Mad About The Boy is precisely the form of comedy my soul wanted, and it’s precisely the form of comedy I didn’t understand I wanted for this character.
However my soul additionally wanted to cry, so I did.
Oh, I Cried
Mark Darcy’s reminiscence is current all through the movie, not solely via Bridget’s grief, but in addition in the way in which her youngsters Billy (Casper Knopf) and Mabel (Mila Jankovic) are attempting to course of his absence. As an individual who misplaced a mum or dad at a younger age, my coronary heart aches for each little one that shares that unlucky expertise, whether or not actual or fictional. So I used to be already invested in Billy’s issues and the way in which he was clearly making an attempt to cope with his personal grief.
I really feel like I ought to have guessed {that a} efficiency of Oliver!’s “I’d Do Something” could be the music he’d carry out on stage on the expertise present as tribute to his dad — in any case, we noticed Mark singing the music to Billy in a flashback — and but it actually didn’t happen to me till the second he took the stage. After which… properly, carry on the waterworks!
It’s spectacular to me that the film was in a position to work Billy’s emotional a part of the story in with every little thing else that was occurring and have it land so completely. What’s extra, Bridget’s personal response to her son’s efficiency and her appreciation towards Scott for his half in making it occur set the following love story up completely.
This Chapter Had To Be Instructed
At this level, it’s clear I appreciated the film, proper? And I’m glad I watched it. However what I actually didn’t see coming was simply how glad I used to be that this chapter of Bridget’s story was instructed. I didn’t know I wanted it, and at one level, I truly thought I didn’t need it, however right here we’re. It nonetheless breaks my coronary heart that Mark Darcy died, and part of my thoughts will at all times wish to stick with the unique story the place they fall in love and find yourself collectively, residing fortunately ever after.
However, I additionally love Bridget Jones on this particular film, at this level in her story.
I feared that what we’d see is kind of the identical character we noticed within the earlier movies. And we form of did — Bridget remains to be Bridget in Mad About The Boy (proper all the way down to lip-syncing her coronary heart out in her crimson pajama prime), however she’s additionally a widow and a mom and buddy and a profitable TV producer. The Bridget on this movie appears extra assured in precisely who she is as a lady, and that comes via as she begins courting.
I liked seeing the expansion Bridget skilled through the years, a few of which is unquestionably as a result of years she had with Mark. And it’s that progress that I believe permits her to be such an ideal match for Scott, who’s very clearly an excellent man, who perhaps doesn’t at all times have all of it collectively, who rambles about science and wonder within the sweetest means, and who completely deserves to be kissed on the sidewalk within the snow and liked simply as he’s, form of like another person we all know.
If you wish to hear a take from somebody who went into Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy with out having seen the sooner films, take a look at what Riley needed to say in her function. Or you possibly can learn what Sarah needed to say in regards to the lack of Colin Firth within the film.