Let me start off by saying that I unapologetically love Bridget Jones. This is in contrast to the majority of my female friends (the males are stereotypically unwilling to even give her a chance) who think she is a terrible fictional character. Yet, as my friend Alison put it, Bridget Jones gives hope to us all. She is a comforting presence, a foul-mouthed, boozy, inarticulate weirdo, who manages to get through life through sheer force of will. And her perpetual will-they-won't-they relationship with Mark Darcy is founded on the fact that she is genuinely a funny and lovely woman. She may not be an Oxbridge-educated top human rights lawyer, but she has her own personal charm and wit that can bring out the best in the stuffy Darcy.
The plot of this movie is fairly farcical. Single at 43 after the relationship with Mark didn't work out (for reasons that are explained halfway through the film), Bridget is trying to live it up again. Through a series of events, she ends up sleeping with a stranger named Jack Qwant (played by Patrick Dempsey, a poor substitute for Hugh Grant's Daniel Cleaver, who does not appear in this film for reasons explained at the very beginning), and then sleeping with Mark a few days later at their goddaughter's christening. Twelve weeks later, she discovers she is pregnant and comedy ensues, as she has no idea who the father is. It seems silly but once the premise is set up, we get a truly fun film, with two earnest lovers wooing our heroine. There are loads of laughs but also a great deal of emotion as Mark struggles to convey his feelings and we get indulgent flashbacks from the old movies to remind us of their epic romance. Colin Firth is still as dashing as ever and there is nothing more glorious that watching the stern Mark Darcy unbend and smile. Only Bridget can put that expression on his face and that is why they deserve to be together.
The movie won't change the mind of anyone who already hates Bridget, but it is a perfect treat for those of us who love her. I found it satisfying and sweet, with some physical comedy that literally made me laugh out loud in the theater and romantic moments that made me tear up. Expertly directed by Sharon Maguire (the original Shazza!) and written by Helen Fielding, Dan Mazer, and Emma Thompson (who also has a hilarious turn as Bridget's bemused OB/GYN), this movie is the perfect swan song for Bridget. It features a much more heartening resolution than the newspaper column or the latest book where--oh the horror!--Darcy was dead. The soundtrack is full of infectious Britpop, there is plenty of sweary dialogue, Shazza, Tom, and Jude put in appearances as Bridget's shockingly grown-up friends who will still enable her ridiculousness, and all in all, the movie doesn't set a foot wrong. Renee Zellweger should triumph in this performance because frankly, until I started watching this movie, I had no idea how much I had been missing Bridget. I love her, and now I have hope that when I turn 43, I can cock up my life and still sort it all out before the next Christmas Turkey Curry Buffet.
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