By Mark Saldana
Rating: 3 (Out of 4 Stars)
After one wonderful movie, and a mediocre sequel, Bridget Jones is back and still has a knack for getting in trouble. Actress Renee Zelweger and actor Colin Firth reprise their roles as Jones and Mark Darcy, a couple that, at one time, seemed destined to be together forever. However, relationship problems and dedication to their respective careers have unfortunately separated the two for several years. At the age of 43, Bridget Jones is still single and in grave danger of becoming a childless spinster.
On the other hand, Darcy has moved on and married another woman. Jones, at the behest of friend and co-worker Miranda (Sarah Solemani), decides to cut loose one weekend and party like a rock star. At a music festival, Bridget meets a charming American named Jack (Patrick Dempsey) and the two share a one-night stand. Not long after this fun night, Bridget and Mark reveal that they still have feelings for one another and spend a night together as well. Being torn between her ex and her new suitor is only one of the complications to arise from these love connections. Things get even more difficult when Jones discovers that she is pregnant, and has no clue who the father is.
Though not as exceptional as the first film, Bridget Jones’s Baby is still a fun and entertaining movie and is at least better than The Edge of Reason. Written by Helen Fielding (author of the Bridget Jones book series), Dan Mazer, Emma Thompson, and directed by Sharon Maguire (director of the first movie), Jones’s Baby is chock-full of cliches and tropes common in comedies about birthing and first-time parenthood, but delivers when it comes to humor unrelated to the baby plot line. I found myself laughing often and often heartily. The writers and the excellent cast offer hilarious jokes, gags, and execute them with fine timing.
It is an absolute joy to see Zelweger and Firth reprise their beloved roles and not miss a beat. Jones newbie Patrick Dempsey makes a great addition to the cast and brings a confident charisma to the character. He is actually a much more likable suitor than Hugh Grant’s Daniel Cleaver. Also returning to the series are Jim Broadbent and Gemma Jones as Bridget’s parents who perform well in their limited roles here. The lovely Sara Solemani performs well as Bridget’s confidant and co-worker Miranda and Emma Thompson makes a couple of fun appearances in the movie as Bridget’s ob/gyn Dr. Rawling.
Even though this movie doesn’t quite match the quality of the very first installment, I still recommend it for fans of the series. There is enough to enjoy here and it is a pleasure to see Zelweger, Firth, and other returning cast members in their roles again after so many years. For those interested in this movie, but have never seen the other installments, one should at least watch the first movie for a proper introduction to the characters and their relationship history. Going into this film blindly is not recommended, though that would probably be something that Bridget Jones would do.