"Bridget Jones: Mad About Him": Emotional comeback with dream cast

In 2001, Renée Zellweger (55) created a RomCom cult figure with "Bridget Jones' Diary". In the film adaptation of the novel of the same name by Helen Fielding (67), cinema audiences got to know and love the clumsy, perpetually single Bridget. This was followed by the sequels "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" (2004) and "Bridget Jones' Baby" (2016), in which viewers were able to follow Bridget's turbulent love life, recorded in a diary. At the end of part three, the Londoner seemed to have found happiness in love. In the fourth installment, "Bridget Jones: Crazy About Him" ​​(cinema release: February 27), however, fans are proven wrong.

Reunion makes fans' hearts beat faster

Bridget's husband, star lawyer Mark Darcy (Colin Firth, 64), died four years ago on a heroic job mission. Since then, she has had to look after their two children, ten-year-old Billy and six-year-old Mabel, and cope with the chaotic family life on her own. While her children and she herself are still suffering from the loss, Bridget also wants to follow her father's advice: she must live.

This not only includes returning to her beloved TV studio job, but also meeting a new acquaintance. At first she gets involved with a much younger man: the good-looking Roxster (Leo Woodall, 28) boosts her self-confidence and impresses Bridget's friends, but the single mother is unsure whether he really fits into her life. And then there is Mr. Walliker (Chiwetel Ejiofor, 47), her son's teacher, who with his analytical manner does not initially seem like a loving person. The people Bridget can always rely on in her life between work, household and love life are her friends, who now also include her ex-flame Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant, 64).

Based on the screenplay by Helen Fielding (67) based on her own novel and with the participation of Abi Morgan and Dan Mazer, the makers of "Bridget Jones: Crazy About Him" ​​have managed to combine a comeback with old acquaintances and a new twist with fresh faces. There is a hoped-for reunion with Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver, who seems a little mellow with age, but still displays the same incorrigible chauvinist nature that Bridget and others are only too happy to forgive. After the turbulent past the two have shared, Daniel has found a very special place in Bridget's life. The joy of the two actors seeing each other again and their love for their respective characters is palpable in every scene.

The humorous reunion of the stars from the previous parts makes Bridget's clique, including Shazzer (Sally Phillips, 54), Jude (Shirley Henderson, 59) and Tom (James Callis, 53), as well as her parents, played by Jim Broadbent (75) and Gemma Jones (82), perfect. Renée Zellweger herself provides another nostalgia factor, filling her signature role as usual even after more than 20 years with sometimes awkward gestures, a slightly waddling gait and an unmistakable facial expression, whether despair or joy. The situational comedy may seem simple at times, but Bridget still makes it a highlight with her reactions to the quickly anticipated faux pas.

The two new men in Bridget's life and her children, charmingly portrayed by Casper Knopf and Mila Jankovic, bring new impetus. Leo Woodall is perfect for the role of Prince Charming, Chiwetel Ejiofor brilliantly fulfills the role of the sensible scientist with heart. Emma Thompson (65) completes the successful cast with her witty brief appearance as gynecologist Dr. Rawlings.

The heartwarming sequel also includes the fact that, alongside the funny moments, tragic moments find their way into the otherwise crazy world of Bridget. The painful memories of Mark Darcy, which always accompany Bridget and her children, and the challenges of being a single mother provide emotional depth. Bridget's new chapter includes all facets of life, from grief to hope, from loss to joy.

Conclusion

The new chapter in the main character's life is also the last film adaptation of a "Bridget Jones" novel. As a viewer, you would like to shout to the makers that there would surely be another Bridget chapter. Because in the often very shallow RomCom streaming service universe, the fourth "Bridget Jones" part is a more than welcome change. With a funny and at the same time emotional script that has created a meaningful follow-up, and a perfectly coordinated cast, the fourth part proves that comebacks can succeed in the film world and that established RomCom success recipes do not have to be a thing of the past.

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