"Almost like witnessing the journey of a family member you've grown up with"

Helen Fielding’s initial newspaper column in the Independent Newspaper followed by the novel Bridget Jones Diary captured the zeitgeist of a generation in the mid to late nineties and continues to resonate with audiences. The worldwide success of the novel led to it being turned into a film in 2001 with Renée Zellweger playing the titular character.

Initially a controversial choice to play a quintessentially English character, the American actress won over the audiences and critics with her charming performance and her command of the English accent, establishing her as Bridget Jones.

The success of the film was followed by two further movie outings Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason in 2004 and in 2016 with Bridget Jones’s Baby. Each developing Bridget’s character, her love story and ending with her being married and a mother.

The fourth installment of Bridget Jones picks up a few years after becoming a mother having lost her husband Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). We see her trying to find her place in life as a middle aged single mother of two who is also trying to strike up a work life balance.

The film finds Bridget coming to terms with loss and grief of losing Mark, whilst also trying to be a supportive mother to her children; who are also dealing with the loss of their father. Although the grief is addressed it is never dweled on attaining a great balance between humanity and humour.

With the majority of the cast returning from the previous films the most welcome of these is Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver who is on top form with humour and his chemistry with Zellweger’s Bridget.

Other returning members of the cast are shown to have moved on in their lives but still offering “words of wisdom and encouragement” to Bridget so she can move on with her life.

As Bridget slowly begins to move forward in life she meets Roxster, played by Leo Woodall, a younger suitor for Bridget’s romantic affections (the boy of the film’s title). At the same time a new teacher has just started work at her children’s school. Mr. Wallaker played by Chiwetel Ejiofor. Which path will Bridget choose to move forward to romance or let it slip away?

Helen Fielding through her writing, and Renée Zellweger through her performance have created a relatable, likeable and charming character who a certain generation of readers and viewers will have been on the journey with, this film will resonate with them. Almost like witnessing the journey of a family member you’ve grown up with.

The film concludes, but is the journey over? Maybe not. There may be room for one more film to bring the series to a satisfactory conclusion. In the meantime I would say this is a very watchable and enjoyable chapter in the life of Bridget Jones earning itself a well deserved 4 out of 5 stars.