Movie Review: Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

 Movie Number 10 of 2025

The Movie: Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

The Cinema: Hoyts Victoria Gardens

Stars: A solid 4

Hands up, I do love Bridget Jones. I've read the books. I've seen all the movies, from the lovely Bridget Jones' Diary (2001), the diabolically sad Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) to the redeeming Bridget Jones's Baby (2016). And having read the book years ago, I wasn't going to be surprised by the plot of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. Helen Fielding, who wrote the book was also responsible for the screenplay. Good move. 

What has surprised me is how many tissues I needed. 

So, here's the crux of the matter. Our heroine, Bridget Jones (Renee Zellweger) is a widowed mother of Billy (Casper Knopf) and Mabel (Mila Jankovic). Mark was killed four years before and Bridget is finally getting out of her funk. At the start of the movie she's ready to go back to work and get out there, albeit gently. 

There are two potential suitors. The first being Roxster (Leo Woodall) a much younger park ranger / mature aged student who you wouldn't say no to under any circumstances. Roxster is fun and savvy and sexy and just what Bridget needs to get out of her funk. 

When her friend Miranda (Sarah Solemani) puts her up on Tinder, she and Roxster connect in a big way. 

There is also the probably much better suited, age-appropriate Science teacher, Mr Wallacher (Chewitel Ejiofor), somebody who's a bit quirky and a grown up who has also taken Bridget's eye. 

As I said - I read the book when it came out - there's no surprises. 

For me, there's a lot to like about this film. I love the continuation of the character. Bridget is a fully realised grown up - a Mum, and unfortunately a widow. This is handled well. And she, and the rest of the cast, have lines on their faces. Thank heavens for English actors and their desire to age gracefully. 

I love that the characters that you've seen through the other movies are back, from Shazza (Sally Phillips), Miranda, Tom (James Callis) Jude (Shirley Henderson) and Magda (Claire Phillips). And it wouldn't be a Bridget Jones movie without Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver. He never learns. 

Colin Firth also makes an appearance as the ghost of Mark Darcy - which is where a lot of the tears came from. 

But there's also the silly hilarity which you expect from these films too. Michael Morris's direction keeps things moving, and it navigates the emotions that comes from grief and acceptance with ease. 

It also has a killer soundtrack. 

And sure, there are moments when the film borders on being twee, and I really, really, really want to have words with the person who did the hair design (Tom's hair - For fuck's sake!). 

But this is a very good last film in the series. Bridget Jones, we wish you very well. You are my Everywoman and I will love you for eternity. Just like Mark Darcy. 

Today's song: