I loved the first two Bridget Jones movies; Bridget Jone’s Diary (2001) and Bridget Jones – The Edge Of Reason (2004). I personally found them refreshing as film experiences. Rene Zellweger’s British accent was impressive and I absolutely adored watching Hugh Grant in a role where he wasn’t playing, for want of a better phrase, ‘a lovable dithering idiot’  – the kind of role he’d played in Four Weddings & A Funeral (1994), Notting Hill (1999) and Mickey blue Eyes (1999). Grant’s role for the first two Bridget Jones movies can be described as a well dressed publishing bad boy named Daniel Cleaver.

The first bit of bad news for me about Bridget Jone’s Baby is that Hugh Grant isn’t in it. I kind of missed his character’s humour but I do understand the need for difference with the third instalment.

The second bit of bad news is that I don’t consider Bridget Jone’s Baby as a good movie. Reason being, it’s odd, awkward and overfilled with dated and obvious music. I particularly dislike the first 40 or so minutes where everything just doesn’t flow well. One of the lowest points for me is the following line and its cringily awkward delivery…

‘Oh God! I’ve just slept with a complete stranger! I’m nothing but a feckless prostitute!’

–  Terrible, terrible, TERRIBLE! This is the point at which it dawned on me that all the Bridget Jones character traits that were once charming, humorous and certainly better written have now morphed into the opposite of all of that and become straight annoying.

There were one or two lines I loved and both happened to be delivered by the ever wonderful Emma Thompson, an actress whose comic timing is sharp as can be. I also enjoyed Patrick Dempsey’s role and welcomed his character’s newness. Overall though, I found myself less than invested in the film’s central love story; something  I blame on the writing and that particular aspect of the film feeling ‘so very 12 – 14 years ago (when the first two movies were released)’.

I say watch this movie if you absolutely must. Just know that the first two are a hell of a lot more fun.

Happy Film Loving

G