BRIDGET JONES’S BABY – Review

It’s cinema sequel time once more, film fans. Generally follow-ups pop up with great frequency during the Summer months, but this flick bends the release rules on many levels. For one thing, a dozen years have passed by since the last installment. Not quite the 20 years between Independence Days, but still rather lengthy. Two more things: it’s based on a book series that focuses on a female protagonist. No, it’s not from a YA (young adult) series, so get THE HUNGER GAMES and TWILIGHT, out of your heads, since this characters has several years on Bella and Katniss. Plus, this is not an action epic set in a dystopian future, rather the present day (although some elements do venture into fantasy). So in 2001 we delved into her diary, three years later she took us to the edge of reason, and now we get to meet BRIDGET JONES’S BABY.

 
As we catch up with Ms. Jones (Renee Zellweger), she’s all “by herself”, listening to the similarly titled pop standard, in her London flat celebrating her 43rd birthday. While blowing on the candle on her cupcake, she brings us up to speed on her life. She’s the stage manager/co-producer of a popular TV news show and best “mates” with the anchorwoman Miranda (Sarah Solemani). A few days ago Bridget attended a memorial service and ran into her ex-beau, famous barrister Marc Darcy (Colin Firth), who was there with his wife Camilla. Double bummer! But things are about to perk up. Since she couldn’t be with her on the big “B day”, Miranda is going to treat Bridget to a weekend at a big music festival where they will be “glamping” (glamorous camping in an already set-up rental tent). Oh, and there will be lots of drinking. So much so that Bridget wanders into the wrong tent. Or maybe the “rightest” tent since it is occupied by a hunky American named Jack (Patrick Dempsey), who she had met earlier in the day as she navigated the muddy grounds of the fair site. Things get chummy and …hours later a hung over Bridget scurries off to find Miranda, while Jack was out getting coffee. Back at work, Bridget must deal with her new bosses, a pack of millennials with no patience for “hard news”. And her “Mum” (Gemma Jones) is running for public office, testing the patience of Dad (Jim Broadbent) back in her home village. When Bridget agrees to be the godmother to Jude’s (Shirley Henderson) new baby, she’s surprised to see that the godfather is Marc, who is at the baptism without the wife. He explains that they have separated, the drinks flow, and….same deal. It’s an uneventful few weeks (Marc is back in the courts with a high-profile case) when she notices her clothes getting more than a tad tighter. Quick trip to chemist for a kit, and Bridget learns she is pregnant. Is the “baby daddy” old flame Marc Darcy or is it the holiday mystery man (Bridget and her “squad” discover that he’s Jack Quant, multi-millionaire creator of a popular dating website, so…that’s a plus!)? How can she tell them, and what will happen if she does? What’s a gal to do??!!

After a long hiatus from film, Zellweger re-affirms her star status by displaying her precise comic timing and a “go for it” spirit in the story’s many slapstick sequences. She delivers an energetic performance, while also never setting aside Bridget’s maturity and her fears (watch her as she hears the phrase “geriatric pregnancy”). This doesn’t inhibit the silly side of the role, with bits of funny business that would make Lucille Ball proud. Unfortunately her suitors don’t get nearly the chance to “cut loose”. Firth, for much of his screen time, is “one note” as Darcy who is written as a stodgy ole’ “fussbudget”, cringing at many of the wild antics of the cast. Happily, Darcy does get to fire off a rare withering retort filled with sarcasm, and you can see the joy in Firth’s eye in these too brief scenes. Then he’ll make a charming declaration of love, and any thoughts about Darcy having a “stick up his…” evaporate. The new guy at this party, Dempsey, is there mostly to provide conflict and melt the ladies’ hearts with his 1000 watt smile and five-o’clock shadow. Oh, and he gets to poke wholes in the uptight, overblown Darcy after Jack’s character does a complete 360 from his awkward live TV interview, after hearing of possible fatherhood. Dempsey also brings lots of energy, but this role won’t have his fans forgetting his “Dr. McDreamy” TV persona. Solemani really sells the role of a respected newswoman by day and party animal by night (or weekend). Gemma Jones and Jim Broadbent do their best to make their “B” story interesting, while Shirley Henderson, Sally Phillips, and Celia Imrie clock in for cameos that unite them from the previous films. The best supporting work is from co-screenwriter Emma Thompson as Bridget’s snarky OBGYN whose deadpan delivery is pure comic perfection. She only pops in for a few brief scenes, but Thompson scores huge laughs every time she appears.

Full disclosure here: I have not seen the previous Jones flicks. I contemplated about streaming them prior to this new entry, but I thought it best to go in cold, since BABY should be able to stand (or crawl) on its own (I don’t think you should have to read the book, before seeing the movie adaptation either). I realize that I’m not really in the demographic the marketing folks are aiming at. This flick is a frothy fantasy for women of (ahem) a certain age. And yes I know the multiplexes are jam-packed with flicks tailored for guys (Bond, Bourne, the Fast &the Furious , etc…). Nonetheless, this stale bit of fluff sorely tested my powers of endurance. As I’ve stated many times before, comedies should not be marathons. One hundred minutes tops. At over two hours, this film veers into Judd Apatow territory. And like most comedies of any length it hits that one hour lull at full force. What could it lose? How about the completely unnecessary “Mum’s campaign” subplot? Hey, Bridget is a wild free spirit and her mother’s a 1950’s prude! Then again, that’s one of many clichés that pass for wit. Caucasian lip sincs to hip hop…check! Little girl drops the F-bomb…in church! One of many gratuitous bombs…but hysterical…check! Leading lady dives into the mud…check! And the old “do everything or say everything I say” bit…double check! The basic plot of “daddy decision” was used way back in 1967’s Sandra Dee farce DOCTOR, YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!, along with many TV sitcoms. The talented cast just can’t work miracles with this tepid script and lackluster direction. The studio might have been thinking this could be another franchise, but hopefully the trilogy mercifully concludes with BRIDGET JONES’S BABY. Whew, somebody change that diaper!
1.5 out of 5