February 12th 2025.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is a highly anticipated film among British audiences in 2025, with Bridget being seen as a cultural icon alongside the likes of James Bond, Harry Potter, and the Beatles. Despite this, there is no one quite like her, a relatable and endearing female character that has resonated with film fans. However, in this new installment, Bridget finds herself in a very different place in her life – now a 51-year-old widow and mother of two.
At first glance, this may not seem like the usual beginning for a Bridget Jones movie. But even with the melancholy and shifting tone, she remains the same Bridget that we know and love. She still makes embarrassing blunders at work, jokes about giving her kids hard drugs, and swigs wine straight from the bottle. There have been concerns about her past behavior being problematic for current times, as well as fears of her being "wokified," but the writing team has handled her character beautifully, making her just as relatable in this new era as she was before.
The film picks up four years after the tragic offscreen death of her husband Mark Darcy, and Bridget is now navigating the world of dating as a single mother in her 50s. She's no longer obsessed with her weight and calorie intake, but she's still the same awkward and positive Bridget. The "smug marrieds" are still around to judge her, but now it's widow Bridget who receives their nauseating sympathy.
One of the most unchanged elements of the film is Hugh Grant's character, Daniel Cleaver. He's still a lothario in his 60s, making saucy comments and dating much younger women. It's a wise decision to not have him conform to modern times, and the addition of a little backstory helps to soften his character. He also has a delightful relationship with Bridget's children, Billy and Mabel, which is a highlight of the film.
Other returning characters don't receive as much screen time, but with such a talented British cast, it can be difficult to give everyone their due. Dame Emma Thompson makes a brief appearance as a gynecologist, which may seem shoehorned in, but the script handles it unapologetically. It's a shame to see such small roles for Isla Fisher, Joanna Scanlan, and Claire Skinner, but it's a testament to the enduring appeal of Bridget Jones that they were eager to be a part of it.
New additions to the cast include Leo Woodall as 29-year-old toyboy Roxster and Chiwetel Ejiofor as uptight schoolteacher Scott Wallaker. Though their characters serve as stand-ins for Cleaver and Darcy, they bring a fresh dynamic to the story. The film doesn't shy away from Bridget's unashamedly hot sex life with a man over 20 years her junior and celebrates her newfound freedom in this new chapter of her life.
While the film may not be a perfect hit from start to finish, it's difficult to come back to a story after so many years and please everyone. But after 24 years since the original Bridget Jones's Diary and nine years since the last film, this was the only way to bring Bridget back – in a new stage of life with new priorities, but still the same lovable Bridget. And as always, we still like her, just the way she is.
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