Film Review: Bridget Jones 4: Mad About the Boy

Bridget Jones 4: Mad About the Boy
Director: Michael Morris
StudioCanal, Miramax, Universal Pictures, Working Title Films
Released on Peacock: 02.13.25

In the last 10 years, there has been a deficit of theatrically released feel-good rom-coms. Of course, you have a few exceptions that manage to squeeze through — like Crazy Rich Asians, Last Christmas and 2023’s Anyone but You — but those are few and far between. More often than not, rom-coms are relegated to the straight-to-streaming route, where they are inevitably forgotten and left to wallow in the endless abyss of content we now consume. However, Bridget Jones 4: Mad About the Boy did get a theatrical release… in the U.K. No one can deny that Bridget Jones’s Diary is a staple in the classic rom-com canon, so to see the newest installment of the series go straight to streaming hurts fans of this relatable British icon. (Specifically, me. I am fans.) Still, I am content that this movie exists and gives another peak into the romantic chaos Bridget Jones inevitably finds herself in once again.

Picking up nine years from when Bridget Jones’s Baby (2016) left off, Bridget Jones (Renèe Zellweger, Chicago, Shark Tale) –– once again using that distinctive Bridget voice, of course –– is now a struggling single mother. Unfortunately, the beloved Mark Darcy, played by Colin Firth (Mamma Mia!, Kingsman: The Secret Service), was killed four years ago during a humanitarian mission in Sudan, leaving Bridget to raise their two children Billy (Casper Knopf) and Mabel (Mila Jankovic) alone. The film follows Bridget in her attempts to build herself back up: going back to work, hiring a nanny and, you guessed it, exploring possible romances. This time, she must choose between her son’s seemingly rigid teacher Scott Walliker (Chiwetel Ejiofor, Love, Actually, Doctor Strange) and the younger Roxster (Leo Woodall, One Day, The White Lotus). It’s a bittersweet romp as we watch Bridget and her children (mainly Billy) deal with the absence of Mark Darcy, as they ultimately come to accept his passing and continue living. 

The film brings back that wit and sardonic British humor that longtime fans have come to know and love, along with the return of Hugh Grant (Paddington 2, Four Weddings and a Funeral) as the other side of Bridget’s initial love triangle, Daniel Cleaver. It’s a fun appearance to be sure, and Grant is always a treat to watch, but ultimately his presence feels like nothing more than pure fan service. His whole storyline could have been cut out. This leads to my biggest criticism of the film, which is that it’s clearly made for people who already have a strong attachment to these movies and characters. While it can still be appreciated by someone with no prior knowledge of the film series, certain moments, especially those between Bridget and Mr. Walliker, are contingent on the audience drawing connections between those moments and moments between Bridget and Mark in previous movies. This prior knowledge also makes the grief throughout the film much more palpable and the heartfelt moments much more impactful. I won’t lie, there were moments where I teared up –– specifically whenever Firth made an appearance as Mark Darcy. But would the film have had the same effect if I was not already familiar with these characters? My guess is no. 

At the end of the day, Bridget Jones 4: Mad About the Boy is the perfect bittersweet chick flick to get you through the post-Valentine’s Day blues. The cast is as loveable as always, and Zellweger once again manages to make a character as awkward and flawed as Bridget Jones charming and endearing. The chemistry she shares with both her love interests and the rest of the cast is delightful to watch as well. It is a hilarious, tear-jerking treat that perfectly bookends Bridget Jones’s journey. —Angela Garcia 

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