We are not interested in the love story of the new Bridget Jones

Twenty-four years is no small number. Not at all. The film industry knows it well, as it relentlessly pushes its flagship franchises, counting on the loyalty of its fans. And Bridget Jones knows it too. After the first film in 2001, she returns with the fourth installment, Mad About the Boy, a movie that could easily be overlooked—especially because it cruelly eliminates one of the saga’s pillars, Mark Darcy. The character, the great love of the protagonist, inspired by Austen’s famous Mr. Darcy and later becoming her husband, is killed off heroically during a humanitarian mission in Sudan, leaving behind his wife and two children, Billy and Mabel, in their beloved England. But this time, Hollywood is not to blame. Hollywood is used to stretching its hits until only the bare bones remain. No, this time, the culprit is the author herself, who, in 2013, decided to bid farewell to the charming lawyer and give Bridget a new adventure—one still centered on her pursuit of independence, friendship, and love. Now, the date is set: February 27, in theaters.

The success of the new Bridget Jones, despite everything

The premise was off to a terrible start. Killing off an entire generation’s romantic ideal is just too much, even with Hugh Grant’s charming Daniel Cleaver making a comeback as the same old rascal. Yet, the silver lining of Michael Morris’ film is that, unexpectedly, it revisits some of the dynamics that made the protagonist’s big-screen debut so successful. A woman, now with two kids, tasked with taking care of herself. Along the way, she may stumble upon a handsome young man who saves her life after she climbs up a tree or a science professor who rekindles the magic of everyday life. But that’s not really the point.

And so, we find ourselves laughing with Bridget, at Bridget, and because of Bridget. Laughing at how she has grown yet remained so much the same. With this cinematic return, we feel the absence of the fairytale romance that Fielding once crafted with Mark Darcy, but there’s no nostalgia for the past—only hope for a future well lived. There’s warmth, a desire to embrace the present, and a woman trying to navigate her messy yet beautiful life. Perhaps, with Bridget Jones - Mad About the Boy, the true essence of the saga finally comes full circle: it was never about who to be with, who should be the father of your children, or what others think. It was always about living life on your own terms. After four years of mourning, Bridget gets back to work, starts going out with her longtime friends again, and picks up the things she had put on hold—including, last but not least, dating (both men and boys).

Mad About the Boy, but our friend remains the true protagonist

Maybe that’s why the film loses some of its grip in the second half, as it attempts to tie up the loose ends of Bridget’s romantic life. What truly resonates is not the love story but the raw and honest journey of a person trying to get back on her feet, find a reason to get out of her pajamas, and reclaim her identity as an individual—not just one half of a couple. We reunite with Bridget Jones exactly as she has always been, and that’s what matters. She’s still searching for balance, which for her means a messy home, unkempt hair, and relationships with others that are never tainted by envy but rather enriched by their differences. She navigates them all—including her ex, Daniel Cleaver/Hugh Grant, now in the improbable yet amusing role of an uncle. And she rekindles the spirit that once led her to write her diaries in the first place. Ultimately, the film leaves us with the comforting feeling of having reunited with an old friend.