Bridget Jones : Folle de lui

'Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy (2025)' is very different to its predecessors, much more sombre and more contemplative. Rather than struggling with beauty standards and societal pressures, Bridget struggles with grief and coming to terms with a world which no longer has Mr. Darcy in it. Set four years after his untimely demise, the film puts enough distance between his death and its events that it isn't constantly consumed by sadness, focusing more on the reality of what happens just after the period of time usually covered by stories concerning tragedy. This allows the affair to totally avoid being dour, and it isn't even all that downbeat. It naturally fluctuates between making you laugh and making you cry, its general sadness counterbalanced by momentary happiness and the understanding that life has to go on and that there's nothing wrong with that. The central drama isn't so much 'boy' (Leo Woodall) vs 'man' (Chiwetel Ejiofor) insofar as a love triangle is concerned (the men share only a single scene), but instead one of Bridget learning to accept the absence of her husband and to live her life again. There are romantic elements of course, but this is the least 'rom-com' in the traditional sense of all the Bridget movies. It also might just be the best. Renée Zellweger is really solid as the lead character, easily slipping back into the role that arguably defines her career, and it's a treat to see characters (including Hugh Grant's Daniel Cleaver, who is pretty much unchanged by the year-long period in which he was declared dead but was actually stranded on an island somewhere, and Emma Thompson's frank-as-always Dr. Rawlings) and locations and even character setups from its predecessors. It's pretty funny and it's pretty moving. In fact, it's pretty much everything it needs to be. It does feel a little long, and certain elements in its third act feel rather rushed. Plus, Bridget doesn't have the strongest chemistry with one of the men (I won't spoil which) and some aspects of the picture feel more obligatory than natural. Still, it's a really solid sequel that examines relatable and important themes in an effective way. It totally justifies its existence.

After being so excited for this I was more than pleasantly surprised. Everything worked for me. It was also bittersweet in that Bridget's Mark Darcy is gone now and Bridget is a widow with young children. It's been 4 years and all her besties from the other films are cheering her on to meet a man-any man-for at least a one night stand. Bridget does meet a much younger man and begins an affair with him. She also meets her son's science teacher who uses a whistle to round up all the kids before school starts. It was very Sound of Music captain seeming. But what I loved most was Hugh Grant's character coming back to be a surrogate big brother/uncle to her children. He's still a womanizer even though he's a lot older than Bridget. My one problem was Bridget's hair. Before it was over, I wanted to comb her hair myself. It was a real mess. But I loved the whole thing anyway and I highly recommend it!

The original Bridget Jones was a refreshing, likeable , classy and breezy comedy with an impeccable (accent) by Renee Zellweger, ably supported by Hugh Grant and Colin Firth. I have watched it many times over the years and certainty felt this should have remained a stand alone film. However, the money beckoned and I didn't bother with the previous two films and having heard it's light and fun we watched the fourth instalment.

It turns out to be a lame and lazy concoction rehash of the first film with posh North London types, a bland and soulless sub plot involving a biology student that goes nowhere, Bridget and her irritating kids stuck up a tree and a unfunny scene of a dog in a pond saved by aforementioned bland man. They even rehash scenes from the first film during the end credits.

Hugh Grant injects some humour and he is fast becoming an effective middle aged actor (the patchy Heretic, the villain in the sublime Paddington 2) .

Sadly Ms Zellwegers' face , like Nic Kidman, is such a distraction that it takes one out the film. Part of the beauty of the fist B. J was her naturalness in looks, now she looks strained and comical; even creepy.

Enough now Working Title!

There was a time when Bridget Jones's Baby felt like the perfect send-off for our favorite clumsy, charming, and endlessly relatable heroine. So when Mad About the Boy was announced, there was a mix of excitement and hesitation. Did we really need another Bridget Jones movie? Was this going to undo the closure we had? But as soon as the film starts, you realize-there's still more to tell. And more importantly, there's still more to feel.

This final chapter of Bridget's journey is a bittersweet one. It deals with grief, loss, and moving forward in life even when it feels impossible. The film beautifully captures the struggle of giving yourself a second chance, of learning how to heal while still carrying love for the past. If you've followed Bridget since the very first film, you'll feel every bit of her emotions. She's still the Bridget we love, but she's more mature now, wiser, a little less clumsy, a little more self-assured. Life has shaped her, as it does to all of us. And that's what makes her story so heartbreakingly real-she's growing, changing, adapting, but at her core, she's still Bridget.

And honestly, this couldn't have worked without Renée Zellweger. There is no Bridget Jones without her. She slips back into the role like she never left, embodying every awkward entrance, every grand gesture, and even the tiniest mannerisms-the nervous smiles, the way she tilts her head when receiving bad news-it's all still so Bridget. Zellweger's performance is nothing short of stunning. She is Bridget Jones, and no other rom-com character can ever quite match what she brings to this franchise.

The film also introduces new love interests-Roxster (Leo Woodall) and Mr. Wallaker (Chiwetel Ejiofor). They bring fresh dynamics to Bridget's life, but they don't quite match the charm and chemistry that Mark Darcy or Daniel Cleaver once had. Roxster is fun but a little two-dimensional, existing more to push Bridget's journey forward rather than being a compelling character himself. Mr. Wallaker, on the other hand, is serious-maybe a little too serious. Unlike Mark Darcy, who had a dry wit that balanced Bridget's chaos, Wallaker feels a bit plain. It's hard to imagine him truly being the one for Bridget.

But Mad About the Boy isn't just about romance. It's about life. It's about parenting-the struggles of balancing kids, work, and personal happiness. It's about friendships-because Bridget wouldn't be Bridget without her loyal, slightly chaotic circle of friends. The film reminds us how much friends shape our lives, offering love, support, and, of course, comic relief. And speaking of comedy, the humor here is just right-not too over-the-top, not forced, just classic Bridget Jones wit.

That said, while the film gives us a solid and heartfelt ending to Bridget's story, the final scene feels a little... abrupt. It's good, but it's not as satisfying as it could have been. After everything Bridget has been through, she deserved a stronger, more definitive farewell.

Verdict Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is like Avengers: Endgame for our aunts and moms. It's a long-lost reunion that feels earned, deserved, and deeply emotional. Best sequel since Bridget Jones's Baby, this is the perfect film to watch with a cup of hot chocolate, wrapped in a blanket, feeling all the feelings. Bridget Jones, thank you for everything.

The final installment of this wonderful series was a tad disappointing. Hugh grant was his flawless Daniel Cleaver but the other characters just seemed forced. The story seemed a bit compartmentalized, and the film never seemed to catch its rhythm. I just expected more From this incredible team of seasoned actors. However wonderful to see all the familiar faces, It was just a bad reminder of how quickly Life passes by. But for all the Bridget Jones fans in the world, it's a must see to say farewell to our beloved characters Who have brought Love, laughs and hope to all us romantics. Thanks for the memories!