I Was Not Expecting a "Bridget Jones Trilogy"

Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

Rated R

Starring Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Gemma Jones, Hugh Broadbent

Directed by Sharon Maguire
  
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)  

Rated R

Starring Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Gemma Jones, Hugh Broadbent

Directed by Beeban Kidron

Bridget Jones' Baby (2016)

Starring Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, Patrick Dempsey, Gemma Jones, Hugh Broadbent

Directed by Sharon Maguire

The Stories:

Bridget Jones (Zellweger) has decided to take control of her life and begins a journal for the New Year. In it she chronicles her life and the relationships she has, including a tryst with her boss, Daniel Cleaver (Grant) and Mark Darcy (Firth), a man she met at the family Christmas party who annoyed her to no end.

By the next film, Bridget seemingly has her mind set up on which gentleman suitor she wants to be with, the trick now is getting him to the altar.

Finally, the majority of the cast returns as Bridget, now alone, wishes she would have been a mother. As luck would have it, she beds a millionaire, has a romantic tryst with an old flame, and is suddenly facing the prospect of motherhood, but has no idea which of the two men might be the father.

So there, are we all caught up now?

As I've mentioned before, 2016 brought the revival of many dormant movie franchises.

With the arrival (no pun intended) of Bridget Jones' Baby, I decided to refresh my memory on what happened previously, and try and remember why I thought they were okay, but nothing great enough to buy for the movie library.

Thankfully, Netflix had the first 2 available to stream, and so I did.

With Diary, it's a pretty fun character driven adventure with lots of quirky people in and out of Bridget's life. As an admitted Hugh Grant fan, most romantic comedies are better just because he is in it. Teamed opposite Firth, as the quiet, bitter romantic interest, they are a comedic pair of opposites that keep the movie, and Bridget's life, very interesting. They also engage in one of the best, worst fights in cinematic history.

As usual, my distaste for language that exists simply because the movie is rated R and can say whatever it wants gives the film a lower grade, and reminds me of why it was never purchased the first go-round. Over the years, I've found that saying #$@#$@#%@$#%@# repeatedly rarely benefits the story, and seems to often be the product of lazy writing.

Unless you're Die Hard, try harder people. :)

Following up Diary, The Edge of Reason, it just feels like an obvious cash grab by the studios. Gone was the director. So too any and all charm and goodwill for the first one. There are a few bright spots sprinkled throughout the film, but not nearly enough to make this one worthwhile, save for the actors themselves.

Thankfully upon the return of the franchise, everyone, minus Hugh Grant, returns, including the director. Whether it was Maguire or what, the film regains much of the charm of the first while centering around the Who's Your Daddy? storyline. The disappointment that there was no Happily Ever After fades quickly as you realize that this is Bridget Jones after all, and why would there ever have been such and ending for her story?

Dempsey fills in admirably as the new potential love interest who finds himself on the other end of Firths' angry gaze. The pair pull off a pretty good chemistry as opposites again vying for Bridget's affections, but the story never quite equals that of the first film.

If you liked any of the previous films, then you'll be more than satisfied with the cinematic conclusion to the tale.

Which is better than some franchises that go out with a whimper, a shadow of their former glory.

Final Grades:

Diary - B
Reason - C
Baby - B-