Bridget Jones's Baby - directed by Sharon Maguire
Two things struck me around fifteen minutes into "Bridget Jones's Baby".
Firstly I was finding it surprisingly funny.
Surprising because I really didn't like the second movie - I found it unfunny, unnecessary and tonally it completely missed the mark.
It was too serious too often and it sorely missed the lightness and humour of the first movie.
And it did something that I hate - it split up a couple we watched go through a long journey getting together in the first movie just to provide a plot for the second.
Even though Bridget has yet again been split up from Mark Darcy in "Bridget Jones's Baby" the lightness is still there and the laughs come pretty thick and fast.
Which brings me to the second point of note....
This film very quickly made me realise how much I have missed seeing Renee Zellweger on the big screen.
After winning an Oscar for "Cold Mountain" (2003) she did mainly voice work in animated movies before vanishing from screens in 2010.
Now back in one of her most recognised roles she proves how damned good she is with this sort of material.
She slips back into the role of Bridget Jones with apparent ease and I loved her performance.
A lot.
The setup for this movie is pretty standard - specially for a Bridget Jones flick.
Bridget is single and drunk and alone on her Birthday.
She watches all of her friends getting married, raising children and generally succeeding at living happy lives.
She does at least have a good job as a TV show producer that she is by turns excellent at and completely incompetent at depending on the requirement for humour at the given moment.
Early on there is a nicely done segment that sees Bridget feeding lines to the on air presenter but neglecting to turn off the microphone when she takes a phone call from a friend.
Of course the presenter will recite the wrong things and yes- it is fairly obvious and predictable but it's funny.
Even funnier is the scene that preceded it.
I will not spoil but it is equal parts fan nostalgia and expedient catching up with events plot detail.
It has been 12 years since "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" after all.
That weak entry is forgotten very quickly as the realisation that this new film is actually good kicks in.
As much as I enjoyed this film it is not without faults.
Hugh Grant's character Daniel Cleaver is missed and Patrick Dempsey's Jack is a poor substitute.
Jack is a wealthy American who has created a dating algorithm that he claims will predict the likelihood of two people making it together.
It's a clumsy plot device and the character itself is not great.
Obviously he will be in conflict with Mark Darcy and as nice as he seems surely he will reveal what an utter cad he is at any moment..... right?
I won't spoil it of course but Jack is the main weak spot in the film.
Also a little hard to believe is that Bridget can be an unwanted frump one minute then the object of intense competition between a dashing human rights lawyer and a handsome millionaire the next.
A strength however is how well the script transitions Bridget into the modern world.
There are swipes at the hip shallowness of news shows and even a bit of a dig at politics as Bridget's Mother runs for local council complete with lip service to gay people, ethnic groups and the disabled.
It is all imbued with the accidental (and hilarious) racism and homophobia that is often seen in those of a certain age.
There isn't anything at all original about "Bridget Jones's Baby".
It isn't going to transform the romantic comedy genre but it is a very fine example of it for sure.
I laughed a lot and I fell in love with the character and the lead actress all over again.
Her constant screwing up may be completely at odds with her having a successful career but who cares when the humour works this well?
Colin Firth is every bit as good as we expect him to be (and always is) and there is great support from an on fire Emma Thompson (who also co-wrote) and the gorgeous and very funny Sarah Solemani as Bridget's best mate Miranda.
Jim Broadbent isn't given a lot of screen time but every second that he does have is utter perfection.
I am genuinely surprised by how successful this movie is.
It plays to the strengths of the genre by keeping things light and funny and is very economical with its emotional moments saving them for maximum impact.
What I had assumed would be a cash in flick destined to drive the final nail into the coffin of the series is instead perhaps the finest of the three.
RATING: 80 / 100
CONCLUSION: No one is as surprised as I was that this film turned out so well. Returning director Sharon Maguire nails this one and Zellweger proves how damned good she is when given the right material. A high point for the trilogy even if it is likely to be the last.
Starring: Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, Patrick Dempsey, Jim Broadbent, Emma Thompson, Sarah Solemani, Sally Phillips, Shirley Henderson, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Paul Bentall, Agni Scott, Patrick Malahide, Ed Sheeran, James Faulkner, Celia Imrie
Screenplay: Helen Fielding, Dan Mazer, Emma Thompson
Music Score by: Craig Armstrong
Cinematography: Andrew Dunn
Cinematography: Andrew Dunn
Edited by: Melanie Oliver
Running Time: 122 minutes
Language: English
Rated: M - Frequent F Bombs and some sexual content
Running Time: 122 minutes
Language: English
Rated: M - Frequent F Bombs and some sexual content
Firstly I was finding it surprisingly funny.
Surprising because I really didn't like the second movie - I found it unfunny, unnecessary and tonally it completely missed the mark.
It was too serious too often and it sorely missed the lightness and humour of the first movie.
And it did something that I hate - it split up a couple we watched go through a long journey getting together in the first movie just to provide a plot for the second.
Even though Bridget has yet again been split up from Mark Darcy in "Bridget Jones's Baby" the lightness is still there and the laughs come pretty thick and fast.
Which brings me to the second point of note....
This film very quickly made me realise how much I have missed seeing Renee Zellweger on the big screen.
After winning an Oscar for "Cold Mountain" (2003) she did mainly voice work in animated movies before vanishing from screens in 2010.
Now back in one of her most recognised roles she proves how damned good she is with this sort of material.
She slips back into the role of Bridget Jones with apparent ease and I loved her performance.
A lot.
 |
| Renee Zellweger is back and better than ever |
Bridget is single and drunk and alone on her Birthday.
She watches all of her friends getting married, raising children and generally succeeding at living happy lives.
She does at least have a good job as a TV show producer that she is by turns excellent at and completely incompetent at depending on the requirement for humour at the given moment.
Early on there is a nicely done segment that sees Bridget feeding lines to the on air presenter but neglecting to turn off the microphone when she takes a phone call from a friend.
Of course the presenter will recite the wrong things and yes- it is fairly obvious and predictable but it's funny.
Even funnier is the scene that preceded it.
I will not spoil but it is equal parts fan nostalgia and expedient catching up with events plot detail.
It has been 12 years since "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" after all.
That weak entry is forgotten very quickly as the realisation that this new film is actually good kicks in.
As much as I enjoyed this film it is not without faults.
Hugh Grant's character Daniel Cleaver is missed and Patrick Dempsey's Jack is a poor substitute.
Jack is a wealthy American who has created a dating algorithm that he claims will predict the likelihood of two people making it together.
It's a clumsy plot device and the character itself is not great.
Obviously he will be in conflict with Mark Darcy and as nice as he seems surely he will reveal what an utter cad he is at any moment..... right?
I won't spoil it of course but Jack is the main weak spot in the film.
Also a little hard to believe is that Bridget can be an unwanted frump one minute then the object of intense competition between a dashing human rights lawyer and a handsome millionaire the next.
A strength however is how well the script transitions Bridget into the modern world.
There are swipes at the hip shallowness of news shows and even a bit of a dig at politics as Bridget's Mother runs for local council complete with lip service to gay people, ethnic groups and the disabled.
It is all imbued with the accidental (and hilarious) racism and homophobia that is often seen in those of a certain age.
 |
| The supporting cast includes Patrick Dempsey, Colin Firth, Sarah Solemani and Emme Thompson |
It isn't going to transform the romantic comedy genre but it is a very fine example of it for sure.
I laughed a lot and I fell in love with the character and the lead actress all over again.
Her constant screwing up may be completely at odds with her having a successful career but who cares when the humour works this well?
Colin Firth is every bit as good as we expect him to be (and always is) and there is great support from an on fire Emma Thompson (who also co-wrote) and the gorgeous and very funny Sarah Solemani as Bridget's best mate Miranda.
Jim Broadbent isn't given a lot of screen time but every second that he does have is utter perfection.
I am genuinely surprised by how successful this movie is.
It plays to the strengths of the genre by keeping things light and funny and is very economical with its emotional moments saving them for maximum impact.
What I had assumed would be a cash in flick destined to drive the final nail into the coffin of the series is instead perhaps the finest of the three.
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