Let me be brutally honest: I didn't have much hope for "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy." I mainly didn't because I felt that "Bridget Jones's Baby" wrapped up the story fittingly. Sure, Daniel Cleaver was revealed to be alive, but I didn't want the happily ever after with Jones and Mr. Darcy to get ruined, especially considering that he's shown to be dead in this fourth installment. I should also mention I only saw the other three Bridget Jones movies a few months back without having read the books, and aside from "The Edge of Reason" leaving me disappointed, the romantic comedy fan in me wondered how it took this long for me to check them out. All three have immense charm and are anchored by an iconic central performance from Renée Zellweger. In theory, I should be excited, but the death of Darcy and the fact it was a Peacock exclusive made me nervous. After seeing it, I can't believe I'm saying this, but this is one of the best romcoms I've ever seen.
To begin with the positives, Zellweger remains the same lovable Bridget Jones we knew from her three prior outings. Now a mother, more the wiser but no less desirable, Jones is a sympathetic yet tragic figure who never ceases to entertain and compel.
The rest of the actors are generally incredible. Hugh Grant hasn't been in a romcom since 2014, so it's appropriate to see him in one of his most iconic roles in the form of Daniel Cleaver. He has his sex monster energy dialed down, but Cleaver's a lot more genuinely likable rather than lovably sloppy. In addition, Jones's two love interests - Chiwetel Ejiofor's Mr. Wallaker and Leo Woodall's Roxster - manage to be enchanting "forces," to quote Wallaker. Nico Parker's Chloe was pleasant, too. I like Chloe.
The comedic spark is never the sharper. However, those expecting the same amount of humor as the other Bridget Jones films should prepare for disappointment. It is much more emotional than any of the other installments, managing to be heartwarming and heartbreaking at multiple intervals. A tissue box is almost a necessity when going to see this film.
I have to give props to Michael Morris's direction. I was hesitant to see what he would do since I'm used to the magic that director Sharon Maguire implemented into the first and third films, and I don't think Beeban Kidron meant to make "The Edge of Reason" as underwhelming and oddly cliched as it is. Thankfully, Morris takes the task much more earnestly than I expected. Numerous shots blew my mind and held emotional meaning.
Finally, Abi Morgan, Dan Mazer, and original author Helen Fielding's screenplay is the best in the entire series. The care they paid to the characters and the overall narrative can't be understated. There are no spoilers here, but this is Bridget Jones's final adventure, and they gave an even better ending to her story than what "Baby" gave to us nine years ago.
Overall, I'm blown away by how fantastic "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy" was. It genuinely baffles me that Universal wouldn't put it in theaters. I know that "Captain America: Brave New World" and "Paddington in Peru" are in theaters the same weekend this is debuting on Peacock, but when watching it, it didn't feel like a streaming movie at all. I feel jealous of the other countries showing the film in their cinemas, as I would've gone to the theater. These films are consistent money-makers, and while "Baby" was the least-grossing domestically, it still made waves internationally. I strongly feel that because of its status as the final installment, it would have made bank.
There's nothing wrong with the film at a technical level, so by default, the technical score is a 10/10, but the acting, directing, screenplay, and Suzie Lavelle's cinematography help.
Now, for the enjoyment score. For a point of reference, I feel that "Bridget Jones's Diary" is a strong 8, "The Edge of Reason" is a sad 4, and "Baby" is a respectable 9. I never thought I'd say this, but "Mad About the Boy" is the best installment. It's the hardest to watch due to its emotional nature but said nature enhances this film's impact. Renée Zellweger and the supporting characters remain as delightful as ever, while the film's comedy is ever so pure, and they end the story right. For those reasons, it's a 10/10 enjoyment score. I'll always be a fan of romcoms, but this was on another level. Thinking about it, "The Edge of Reason" is the least important of the four movies. Given that fact, the perfect romantic comedy trilogy just concluded. Watch it on Peacock. It's more than worth it!
