Film Review: BRIDGET JONES’S BABY (UK/USA/France 2016) ***

BRIDGET JONES’S BABY (UK/USA/France 2016) ***
Directed by Sharon Maguire

Starring: Renée Zellweger, Gemma Jones, Jim Broadbent, Patrick Dempsey, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth

Review by Gilbert Seah

It’s been a while (15 years when DIARY was made in 2001) since Bridget Jones had a fling with her two boyfriends played by Colin Firth and Hugh Grant, with her having to decide the one to pick. The latest BRIDGET JONES’S BABY has Bridget aged from her 20’s to the ripe and mature age of 43 where it is time to have a baby or never. And maybe even get wed in the process. The film is faithful to the first film while the first film was faithful to a sort of modern version of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Hugh Grant is out, but his character still makes an impact on Bridget’s life. He is conveniently put out of the picture by having his death occur and Bridget meeting Firth’s character, Mark Darcy once again at the funeral.

Sharon Maguire returns as director and most of the cast including Renée Zellweger as Bridget, Colin Firth as Mark Darcy and Jim Broadbent and Gemma Jones as the parents.

In the true tradition of Bridget Jones’s first film, she has to have two beaus. The second one is provided by her chance meeting, with sex of course with American dating guru, Jack played by hottie Patrick Dempsey.
The film has a nice surprise cameo by no other than a well known celebrity (not revealed here) who Bridget thinks is the Starbucks guy. The cameo character gets to perform as well. Emma Thompson (who co-wrote the script) shows how to be funny by keeping playing it completely straight as Bridget’s doctor. One of the other co-writers is Helen Fielding who also wrote both the book and the script for the first film.
The guys roles are well written with the guys being level headed. If a wrong decision is made, (like Jack’s) a reason is given and he seeks forgiveness. Most female flicks have the male characters portrayed as idiots.

The film is updated with current issues like same-sex marriage, overhaul of newsroom presentations, freedom of speech and comfort of bearing bare breasts among other things. The two competing beaus do not fight and smash through a window like the first film, but they indulge in verbal arguments instead. But it is those stares they have for one another that kill.

The script knows when to be funny and when to be serious. The serious moment like when Bridget has a heart-to-heart talk with Jack adds meaning to the plot. But the film takes a while to get its footing. Many critics have applauded the hospital revolving door segment as the funniest. The comedy consists of lewd jokes (like children surprisingly uttering the f*** word), slapstick and play of words. The hit and miss ratio is not bad.

BRDGET JONES’S DIARY succeeds as a 40ish romantic comedy and an apt sequel. The film should not disappoint avid fans.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJsvmscPY9w