Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy Review: She's back for one final diary entry!

For almost the last 30 years, Bridget Jones has been a staple of British cinema. The true definition of an icon. While she got her start as a novel in 1996, the whole world fell in love with her in 2001 when the film came out. We have met up with her over the years - first in 'The Edge of Reason' in 2004, after a long hiatus she thankfully returned in 2016 with 'Baby'. Now she's back for one last diary entry in 'Mad About the Boy'.

'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy' shows us what Bridget (Renée Zellweger, 'Judy', 'Chicago') has been up to since we last saw her. After finally marrying Mark Darcy (Colin Firth, 'Mary Poppins Returns', 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again'), their family grows, having a boy and girl together. However, Mark passes away and for four years Bridget tries to pick up the pieces of her life. She is struggling to get back into work and adjust to her new life as a single mother. She has the support of her friends, Sharon (Sally Phillips, 'How to Please a Woman', 'Ferdinand'), Jude (Shirley Henderson, 'See How They Run', 'Harry Potter' franchise) and Tom (James Callis, TV's 'Battlestar Galactica'), co-worker Miranda (Sarah Solemai, 'Greed', 'How to Build a Girl'), her gynaecologist turned life coach Dr Rawlings (Emma Thompson, 'Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical', 'Good Luck to You, Leo Grande'), and even Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant, 'Paddington 2', 'Wonka'). But it's time for her to fall back in love! She first meets Mr Wallaker (Chiwetel Ejiofor, 'Venom: The Last Dance', 'Locked Down'), a teacher at her children's school, but then also begins to fall for Roxster (Leo Woodall, TV's 'The White Lotus'), a younger man. Bridget is once again returning to her diary as she is mad about the boys.

SWITCH: 'BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY' TRAILER

What succeeds the most about 'Made About the Boy' is the way they have made these characters grow up. A lot of nostalgia-driven sequels feel like their characters are trapped in their original younger selves, but not the 'Bridget Jones' franchise. These characters are not the same as when we first meet them, they have grown up - Bridget herself is a mother, she is dealing with the loss of her husband, she can't be the same drunken mess she was in 2001. While they still keep her true to the character, she feels more real with how they have made her grow up.

As always, Renée Zellweger is so incredibly loveable in the role and brings even more heart to the character in this entry. While we do get to spend time with both old and new characters more than the other films this is Bridget's film, and Zellweger does a phenomenal job carrying the film.

As always, Renée Zellweger is so incredibly loveable in the role and brings even more heart to the character in this entry.

Unlike previous entries - and I think partly because this is the last time we will see these characters - this is a far more emotional film. There is a tremendous amount of heart and the film does a fantastic job of balancing the comedy beats with those more heartfelt ones. As mentioned, we have had these characters with us for almost 30 years and this send-off is so beautifully done; it's everything one could want from a conclusion to this franchise.

'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy' is truly the perfect finale to her story. I have nothing but the highest praise for it. If you have grown up with her, this is a hilarious and heartful film to complete the journey of one of the UK's most iconic characters.

PRODUCERS:	Tim Bevan
	Eric Fellner
	Jo Wallett

CAST:	Renée Zellweger
	Leo Woodall
	Emma Thompson
	Hugh Grant
	Chiwetel Ejiofor
	Colin Firth
	Sally Phillips
	Shirley Henderson
	James Callis
	Isla Fisher

	JOIN			SIGN IN
	Keep up-to-date on your favourite artists and movies, track gig and release dates, and join in the conversation.			Username / Email Password

WRITERS:	Dan Mazer
	Abi Morgan

BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY

SHE'S BACK FOR ONE FINAL DIARY ENTRY!