Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Despite all the repeated gags and such, it’s charming—and more emotionally vulnerable than many of its counterparts.

It's scrappy. It plays like a series of sketches and some of them work better than others... [but] it settles down into something which is actually about grief.

What you have is a mature film that captures all the ups-and-downs of life, and all the truths we can hold at the same time. Bridget can quietly sit with her pain and have fun sexy times with a younger lover.

Despite its flaws, the movie will resonate with long-time fans of the franchise, providing enough nostalgic moments and crackling humour to be a satisfying farewell to a well-worn romcom.

The sequel we didn’t know we needed, Mad About The Boy is a heartfelt, charming return to the chaos surrounding the one and only Bridget Jones. You might even shed a few tears.

While we’re invested in the idea of Bridget getting her second chance at a happy ending, it’s the film’s returning characters rather than the new ones that deliver heart and humour. Most welcome is Hugh Grant’s raffish Daniel Cleaver.

The delay between pictures actually makes this series feel like it was inspired by Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy, where nine years passed between each movie. As there, it’s worth the wait.

Hugh Grant’s charming cad, Daniel Cleaver, is the only reason to ignore the many squished-in callbacks as well as the abrupt tonal shifts

Fourth installments in a franchise (especially after so much time) are rarely a good idea, but Mad About the Boy continues on the tradition of the franchise's penchant for bittersweet sentiment and joyful humour.

This is the Bridget Jones we know and love and if you enjoy that then this is going to be an affable two hours of your time.