Bridget Jones's Baby

Movie Name: Bridget Jones's Baby
Year of Release: 2016

Director: Sharon Maguire

Stars: Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, Patrick Dempsey, Emma Thompson, Jim Broadbent, Gemma Jones, Sally Phillips, Shirley Henderson, James Callis, Neil Pearson, Sarah Solemani, Celia Imrie, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Joanna Scanlan, Kate O'Flynn

Genre: Comedy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 4
View Trailer Here

Synopsis:

The Bridget Jones saga continues, this time around with the original director, Sharon Maguire, coming back to helm the third feature, and the original script being handled by Helen Fielding, Dan Mazer and Emma Thompson ( this feature unlike the previous two, was not based on a previously published novel). The film follows the misadventures of Bridget Jones, now a 43 year old single woman, following her split from Mark Darcy, who in the meantime has married someone else. While celebrating her birthday with a friend from work, Bridget engages in a casual tryst with an American by the name of Jack. The same week, she goes to a Christening and also engages in another casual romp with Darcy (who is actually in the midst of a divorce). Much to Bridget's surprise, she becomes pregnant, however she does not know who the father actually is. Bridget decides to present the situation to both men, who both agree to help her through the process with unexpected situations presenting themselves.
What made the original film work (which came out in 2001), was the obvious charm and talent of Renee Zellweger, alongside the story of an accident prone Bridget Jones, who tended to be caught up in romantic dalliances which were not always the best and most advised for her. The first two films also dealt with her struggles pertaining to a sense of self image, and how she overcame those to find resilience and self affirmation within her own skin. This third film side steps this altogether: the new Bridget is slim and more confident. She's a slightly older Bridget, with a slightly bruised heart, but still hoping her prince charming is available. The film ultimately suffers from a barely there concept, something that Renee Zellweger again carries with her charm, but this is a Bridget who no longer has the spark and the irreverence that dominated the first feature (her spunk has somehow been tampered down). The film tries to marry the concept of aging with being a mother at an older phase in life, trying unsuccessfully to be funny while doing so, however that's a premise that was slightly better explored in "Baby Mama" (the Sigourney Weaver character in that film). For all the incredible cast that is assembled, this is a film that is safe and ultimately quickly forgettable.