It’s been nearly a quarter of a century since Renee Zellweger first climbed into her big knickers and staggered across our screens as the hapless, plonk-swigging, accident-prone Bridget Jones looking for love. And I’ve been with her every misstep along the way. By episode three, Bridget finally got her man – spontaneous standing ovation and massive round of applause – only to find him snatched away by this fourth and final instalment, Bridget Jones, Mad About the Boy.
Now a widow and single parent of two, Bridget hides her crippling grief behind a brave face for the sake of the kids and her own sanity. Staring at a future alone, she dips a reluctant toe into the dating pool all over again.
With more pathos and less slapstick this time round, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house – because we all want Bridget to get a second chance at a happy ever after.
As before, Rene, the Oscar-laden, mega-talented Texan, delivers the best home counties accent since Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love. And the excellent supporting cast, many of whom have been by Bridget’s side from the very beginning, is crowned by a fantastic turn by Hugh Grant as the scoundrel Daniel Cleaver. Like a good wine, Hugh Grant just gets better with age.
Here’s the trailer…
Some people are a bit sniffy about Bridget, but as Sarah Carson wrote in the I Paper,
I pity the Philistines who do not adore Bridget Jones. How joyless their lives must be, how poor and lonely, not to find in her diaries solace and wisdom and some of the most shrewd understanding of people and society since Jane Austen.
Ok, a tad harsh, but I see her point.
For me, the joyful reunion with Bridget was like catching up with an old pal over a drink or three.
