To See or Not to See: Bridget Jones’s Baby

Bridget Jones is back, and we can’t stop smiling. This newest installment in the Bridget Jones franchise, Bridget Jones’s Baby, is just as charming and funny as the first one.

We find Bridget (a terrific Renee Zellweger) a bit older, a bit thinner, and, dare we say, a bit wiser (but just a bit). When her group of friends–Shazzer (Sally Phillips), Jude (Shirley Henderson), and Tom (James Callis) (almost all of them now with children of their own)–ditch her on her birthday (she’s single, yet again), Bridget decides to have a fun girls’ weekend with her news show colleague, Miranda (Sarah Solemani). While on the weekend trip, Bridget encounters a really hot American (Patrick Dempsey) and has an equally hot one-night stand. Returning to England, Bridget heads to her newest godchild’s christening…only to find out the godfather is none other than her ex, Mark Darcy (a noticeably older yet still handsome Colin Firth). Old memories and feelings are rekindled, and Bridget spends a night with him. Fast-forward a bit, and Bridget discovers she’s pregnant at 40. Who could the father be? Will she stay single, or will she end up with one of these lovely gentlemen?

Renee Zellweger steps with ease right back into the character of Bridget. The awkward public speaking moments are there along with her diary narration (albeit typed into a tablet rather than handwritten in a journal). Patrick Dempsey is, in one word, a dreamboat. As billionaire, dating-website creator, Jack, Dempsey charms his way through the film. He is the picture of father-to-be perfection….yet, you have to root for Darcy. Seeing Colin Firth’s Mark Darcy strips away the years. His stoic, emotion-supressing, work-aholic nature is tempered by his clear love for Bridget…plus, when he finally cracks a smile, you can’t help but smile yourself. Emma Thompson makes an appearance as Bridget’s baby doctor. Not only does she nail the wonderful dry humor, but Thompson also co-wrote the script (along with Helen Fielding and Dan Mazer).

Bridget Jones’s Baby is the perfect rom-com. It has moments of levity alongside moments of hilarity and romance. Bridget is so likable and easy to empathize with, that you’ll find yourself immersed so much in the story that once the movie ends, you’ll be eager to see what comes next.

Photo Credit: Universal Pictures