Review: Bridget Jones - Mad About The Boy
The Fourth Film In The 'Bridget Jones' Series
INTRODUCTION
This is a quick review of the newly released film Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy. Please note that this is just one of the many movies I will have watched each year, and my initial grade for this film may change over time, for better or worse. To stay up to date on my thoughts about other movies and any potential changes in my opinion on this one, follow me on Letterboxd.
If you enjoy these reviews, I’d greatly appreciate it if you could share this newsletter with family and friends who might love receiving film reviews, classic movie lists, and Oscars projections straight to their inbox.
PLOT
Via Letterboxd: After the tragic loss of Mark Darcy, Bridget navigates life as a single mother to two young children, balancing work, family, and a surprising new romance.
REVIEW
Between a new MCU flick and a third Paddington film, yet another franchise sequel is set to hit screens this Valentine’s Day weekend with Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy. This marks the fourth installment in the adaptation of Helen Fielding’s beloved Bridget Jones chick-lit novels. While the last film in the series was an original story, this one returns to its literary roots, adapting the third (and divisive) book in the trilogy.
I vaguely remember seeing marketing and trailers for the first film back in 2001 and was, of course, aware of its successful-at-the-box office sequels. However, I never got around to watching any of the Bridget Jones films, mostly due to timing and the simple fact that I am in no way the target demographic for these movies. With Mad About The Boy releasing on Peacock in the U.S. and theatrically overseas, I decided to dedicate my week to catching up on the previous three films. My overall takeaway? They’re actually pretty good, cozy, well-executed romantic comedies.
Granted, I am, once again, clearly not the intended audience, but I found myself enjoying them thanks to Renée Zellweger’s impressive and near-flawless British accent, Hugh Grant’s undeniable charisma (even while playing the cheating asshole), and Colin Firth’s endlessly likable Mark Darcy. The original 2001 film easily stands out as the strongest entry, but the sequels hold up as fine-enough pleasant little watches too. Even Bridget Jones’s Baby, which suffered from the notable absence of Grant’s character, managed to deliver a decent enough experience for me.
Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is an adaptation of the divisive third book, which takes a bold narrative turn by killing off Mark Darcy. This shift resets Bridget’s romantic misadventures, this time involving a much younger love interest and another in her son’s more age-appropriate science teacher. While both Firth and Grant make brief cameos, I found myself missing the dynamic they brought to the series. That said, the film deserves credit for handling Mark’s death with the appropriate emotional weight, ensuring he wasn’t just casually written out.
If you’ve seen one Bridget Jones movie, you’ve more or less seen them all. The formula remains intact - Bridget narrates her diary, embarrasses herself in pursuit of the wrong men, eventually finds her way to the right one, and receives questionable advice from her eccentric friends and family (though Emma Thompson’s gynecologist character in the last two films remains a standout exception with good advice). This movie follows that blueprint but with a fresh set of romantic leads.
Surprisingly, the film’s dramatic moments are among the best in the franchise. The exploration of widowhood and single parenthood carries genuine emotional weight, making for some of the most poignant scenes in the series. However, the comedic elements don’t land as well this time, making it the weakest entry in terms of humor. The film also leans heavily into fan service, which will delight die-hard fans but might feel like forced nostalgia to more casual viewers. On the bright side, nearly the entire cast (with the exception of Patrick Dempsey) returns for one final hurrah.
The movie wraps things up neatly, strongly hinting that this is the definitive conclusion to Bridget’s story. The fact that this installment is going straight to streaming in the U.S. instead of getting a full theatrical release reflects the industry’s increasing reluctance to invest heavily in romantic comedies, even with A-list talent and an established fanbase.
Ultimately, Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is one for the fans. It feels bittersweet to see Bridget’s journey conclude without Mark Darcy by her side, but the filmmakers handle this major shift with respect and care. While it’s likely the weakest entry in the series for me, it still serves its purpose for those who love following Bridget’s chaotic yet endearing pursuit of happiness. Like it’s two previous sequels, I’d give it a fine-enough grade of B—flawed but enjoyable, and an enjoyable enough send-off for the world’s most famous singleton.
GRADING
