Bridget Jones is back on the big screen in Bridget Jones’s Baby and I for one could not be more excited. In another life, I had a job where I wore a name tag with my favorite movie on it. That movie was Bridget Jones’s Diary.
I have adored these characters and this story since they first appeared 15 years ago. Bridget Jones, played perfectly by Reneé Zellweger first came to us as the awkward, flawed yet loveable heroine we were all rooting for to find love. There isn’t a woman alive in her late 30’s/early 40’s who did not see some of Bridget in themselves.
We watched her fumble in and out of love, struggle with her weight, swear like a sailor and openly express her insecurities in the bedroom. And we loved her for it. Now, we get to continue to be a part of her story as she enters, hilariously, into motherhood.
BJB explores a familiar storyline of girl has sex with 2 men within a few days of each other, gets pregnant, and doesn’t know who the daddy is. Who hasn’t been there, am I right?? Honestly I was a little afraid this sequel would fall prey to a lot of typical story tropes within that story line. But I can tell you, it didn’t.
We now find Bridget as a top notch TV news producer who is close friends with news anchor Miranda (Sarah Solemani). She’s feeling the birthday blues and the two venture out for a wild weekend complete with yurts and Ed Sheeran. It’s a perfect setting for Bridget to be very, Bridget-like.
Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) is back as an older, more distinguished version of the Mark we first met 15 years ago. He still has that kind, loyal British sensibility that we fell in love with in the first place. And although it’s never stated why he and Bridget aren’t still together when this movie begins, you get the idea that it wasn’t because he didn’t love her.
His competition for Bridget’s heart this time is devastatingly handsome Jack (Patrick Dempsey) who plays a billionaire matchmaker.
(Side note: I actually worked with Patrick on a few episodes of Grey’s Anatomy several years ago and he was just as charming in real life. So as you can imagine, I was torn!)
Who do you root for in a situation like this? The charming new guy who promises her everything she’s ever dreamed of? Or the long-standing love of her life who can’t seem to commit?
I can tell you the writers Helen Fielding, Emma Thompson and Dan Mazer did an amazing job of letting the audience fluctuate between being drawn in by the comfortability of Mark, and the next minute pulling for the sincere Jack. You really get a sense of how her heart must feel in this situation.
And yes, you read that correctly. THE Emma Thompson co-wrote this film. She also expertly plays Dr. Rawlings and arguably has some of the funniest lines in the film.
I would also like to say that I am THRILLED the powers-that-be did not try to recast this character with a younger actress as can sometimes happen in Hollywood. I want to see 40-something Bridget struggling to find love! That makes it infinitely more interesting to me. Reneé Zellweger has brought this character to life and should continue to play her as long as she wants to, IMO.
This is definitely a movie I will watch again. I left the theater feeling satisfied that Bridget would be alright and her baby would be in good hands. What? You don’t think I’m going to give it all away here do you?
Will you see the movie? Who will you root for? Thankfully you can use the hashtags #TeamDarcy or #TeamJack to show your support. Then comment below to let me know what you think of the movie. I for one would watch these characters grow old together…Bridget Jones’s Grandbaby anyone?
Bridget Jones’s Baby opens in theaters everywhere on Sept. 16th.
