Film Review - Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Images courtesy of Universal Pictures.
Like her, love her or loathe her, our favourite English spinster Bridget Jones is back. We’re all familiar with the iconic English it girl from the early 2000’s. Since the first film’s release in 2001, Bridget Jones’s Diary has captured the hearts of young hopeless romantics seeking to find love. Many may say that another movie was not needed and that this was simply an attempt for a famous franchise to sponge off the nostalgia of Millenials and Gen-Z’s.
However, after having watched Bridget Jones’ Diary: Mad About the Boy, it brings Bridget Jones’ story to a full circle. From the confused young woman navigating her way through her tumultuous love life, to the middle-aged divorcee about to get remarried, and now finally the widowed woman with two children trying to recover from the death of her beloved Mark Darcy.
The audience saw several familiar faces including Renee Zellweger as Bridget Jones, Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver, glimpses of Colin Firth as Mark Darcy and several other already established characters. Seeing how the characters have evolved and how gracefully they have aged creates an atmosphere of nostalgia for the franchise’s long term fans.
The film stays true to the books written by Helen Fielding: Mark Darcy has passed away after being killed in a car in Sudan. Mad About the Boy proves that Bridget Jones is her own woman, without Mark Darcy. Director Michael Morris takes a more modern approach whilst honouring the original works of Sharon Maguire and Beeba Kidron by including the standard whimsical and dry British humour.
Morris and Director of Photography Suzie Lavelle work to revitalise the iconic 2000’s it girl. This film is most creative in terms of shots and cinematography, utilising more innovative techniques in comparison to the previous Bridget Jones prequel films. Most notably was the camera zooming in on Bridget as she is surrounded by the chaos of her everyday life. The shot powerfully conveys her struggle to decide whether to return to her demanding job while confronting the crushing expectations placed upon her as a single mother.
Throughout the film there are several jabs towards Bridget, from picture perfect soccer mums, old friends with fulfilled lives, and the sexually charged coworkers who decide to put her on Tinder. They make fun of her age, inevitable menopause, and her loveless and sexless life. Despite this, Bridget Jones continuously proves that she is a survivor and is able to rise above the challenges life throws at her. Zellweger’s performance in Mad About the Boy was consistent with her previous performance, she was able to embody the perfect blend of vulnerability and strength.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is a tale bound to resonate with every woman’s experiences. Bridget Jones’ relatable imperfection and shameless attitude mean that even twenty four years later, she’s still an icon for young women around the world.
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Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is screening in cinemas now. For tickets and more info, click here.