Yes, twelve years after her last adventure, Bridget is back. All-new tales of woe, all-new mishaps, all-new man (and an old flame) and the same levels of ditz. Yes that winning formula, based on the original idea and novel by Helen Fielding, and on the original film penned by the likes of the legendary Richard Curtis, returns after a long hiatus to complete a trilogy of films.
For me, the Bridget Jones franchise as we must now refer to these things, were a series of ups and downs in scale and feel. Whilst the formula and the chief characters didn't quite resonate with me as much as others (it may be clichéd but I do think that it is probably true to say women just get Bridget more than men) the first film still resonated and was believable to my mind, brilliantly cast and acted, and with the aforementioned writing skills of Curtis and co. did hammer home as a Brit flick classic as it did with most. Its sequel, Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason, whilst funny and pleasant did seem to me at the time to be the absolute peak of where these characters could go, and possibly well past peak in various cases.
I say characters as to me, perhaps controversially these films were always best when viewed as ensemble pieces. I think to the legions of fans who adore them Bridget is seen as the be-all and end-all, and whilst Renée Zellweger is extremely well cast as Bridget in the first two films, she is not to me what completely makes the picture. To me what does is certainly Bridget Jones but also certainly the huge plethora of talented actors and great characters she interacts with, resulting in her unique life and view of life.
So whilst I was open to the idea of them bringing Bridget back, I was a little wary that actually this time they may be a tad too optimistic and may just overestimate Bridget Jones' longevity and appeal on screen. However, by and large I feel they have just about pulled it off.
Let's start with the positives, as thankfully I feel they are definitely in the majority. First and foremost - it is still funny! The comedy was key, and this third film did have a handful of genuine laugh out loud in the cinema moments for me, and the overall tone was generally quite light-hearted and warm, which was nice to see.
A lot of key players were also back and many did hold their own so well it was like they had never been away. Of course Zellweger is still quintessentially Bridget Jones, and though there was absolutely no degree of subtlety shown in moving Bridget on with the times, the lead actress and character seemed to take it in their stride. Colin Firth too as the imitable Mark Darcy showed his constant class, charisma and charm, as well as matching any character stride for stride in terms of comedy, and his and Zellweger's chemistry, whilst perhaps not overflowing was still readily and happily accessible.
Whilst I lament the loss of Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver, as I believe that element could still work a third time done right, I did enjoy the injection of Patrick Dempsey as the latest and freshest part of the love triangle. Whilst at times obviously superficial and blasé in tone and execution, his character was actually a pleasant breath of fresh air, likeable and though at times forced, his addition was genuinely welcome amongst the well-known formula.
Other great names, talents and characters were great to see back too such as the legends that are Jim Broadbent and Gemma Jones, Sally Philips, Jessica Hynes and Celia Imrie. Plus a few new faces were nice to see including Sarah Solemani and the iconic Emma Thompson (who's writing talents were also on display).
The plot isn't especially nuanced or overthought but is bright and breezy enough, like Bridget Jones films gone by.
Bridget shags two guys, Bridget gets pregnant, Bridget knows not who the father is, Bridget gets briefly and Britishly fought over, Bridget has baby, all is well, basically. There are a few added layers and a few added attempts at high drama and intrigue that in all honesty do not suit, but basically that is it. The plot I think is fresh enough to attempt to drag Bridget over a decade on into the modern world (though not sure about her diary being replaced by a glorified iPad) but not too flouncy and fragile enough to crumble too much under scrutiny. Overall the story is quite a nice, warm comedic ride that just about manages to carry the mantle of Bridget Jones.
However, not too discretely secreted throughout the otherwise quite nice third outing are glaring additions, touches and decisions that just did not work for me as an audience member, and I suspect in some cases not for other audience members too.
The first is an obvious one. For whatever reason, Renée Zellweger just does not look like Bridget Jones anymore. At least not as much. Now you may say that this is a tad materialistic, which it kind of is, and that it surely isn't unrealistic to change one's appearance a tad, which it isn't and yes it is briefly covered in the actual film, sort of. But part of Bridget Jones' charm in films gone by was how she looked, and how she was quite insecure with how she looked and came across and how she dealt with that was what made her so adorable, relate-able and lovable. As I've said Zellweger hasn't lost the ability to play Jones, but I think she has simply put her foot down this time and not put on the added weight everyone talks about with Bridget, plus has done something to her face (I'm not speculating what - I'm not falling in with tabloids and gutter press) in the intervening years between films, or she has simply changed with age. Either way, she is Bridget but not as we knew her, and that I think took away a severe advantage before we even began.
Perhaps partly down to this, and the possible fear of returning after so long, whilst as I say the general formula and nice feel is there, in terms of direction and tone this film seems a bit of a mishmash. On the one hand they would have us believe nothing has changed and isn't it all lovely. On the other hand they try and inject so many fresh new oddities and eccentricities its just confusing. And then on the third hand, whilst we know how crazy and eclectic Bridget Jones' life is, we suddenly seem to be going to a whole new level to compensate for all the changes (so much so it even outdoes the Thai prison of the previous film). I think the idea throughout is to show that however times have changed, and whatever insane situation she finds herself in, Zellweger's Bridget deals with it in the exact same intrinsic and deliciously individual way. That is not the effect this time. The lunacy and sheer dizzying array of odd occurrences and over-the-top interactions take over any character and any true character development. I mean come on - crowd-surfing at a Glastonbury knock-off and Ed Sheeran zorbing with a Tinder-obsessed news anchor. The amount of elements to this film that were clearly and so obviously just done for effect, and to try and remain relevant is beyond description. Whilst they all do not take away from Bridget Jones' core, they provided heaps of unwanted distractions and perhaps unnecessary embellishments.
My other main gripe is that, while I say the past two films have found strength in ensemble, this time the ensemble is treated often as an added extra and formality. More so than ever before, Zellweger, the writers and all the powers that be seem blatantly selfish in trying to make it all about Bridget. So much so that the likes of Jim Broadbent and Celia Imrie have barely more than cameo roles. And Jessica Hynes does not even have one line at all! These are not only proven and superb acting talents that frankly deserve more respect than this, but they are also key parts of the franchise's lore and characters that fans have come to know and love very well. To forsake them at the expense of just trying to ram home a third film that apparently should be treated like gold dust is just plain wrong in my view.
All that said, as I say for me in the end the positives do outweigh the negatives, and for any faults I or others may find in this third outing, there is no getting away from one simple fact; that it is really and truly oh so good to see Bridget Jones back!
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