Mum's Monday: Bridget Jones' Baby

Back in 2001, as part of a new year’s resolution, Bridget Jones (played by Renee Zellwegger), starts writing a diary. Each entry starts with her weight, smoking and drinking status. This is good and I think appeals to most women as they seem to want to be in control of their weight and drink and smoke less.

Bridget then starts an affair with her boss Daniel Cleaver, a playboy-like character (played by Hugh Grant) but there is a complication as another man has caught Bridget’s eye, Mark Darcy, an uptight, workaholic lawyer (played by Colin Firth) this and all the ups and downs that follow are documented in Bridget’s diary. This is by no means boring, as Bridget’s life never runs quite as she plans it.

4 weeks after the first film, Bridget Jones and the Edge of Reason (2004). Bridget is living with Mark Darcy and is unhappy, and Bridget is insecure about their relationship. There are things she doesn’t agree with including his voting preferences. I don’t know if this is a deal breaker in a relationship. If you love someone who cares which way they vote. Listening to other people’s relationship advice doesn’t help the situation either, as she doesn’t take her own opinions into account, and therefore starts to derail.

10 years later, during the events in Bridget Jones’ Baby (2016), Bridget is 43, living on her own and has a job in Television. She is attending a memorial service for her ex-boss Daniel who was travelling in an aeroplane that crashed. Into the service walks Mark with his wife, but there’s more than meets the eye. This is a very clever film as it leaves you guessing as to what is happening and also with double meanings to things being said, this film makes you laugh whilst thinking of the things actually being said.

Bridget is then whisked away for the weekend by her mate Camilla (played by Agni Scott) Bridget should have been told where she was going as she turns up inappropriately dressed in white and in sandals for a music festival in a field, but for the sake of the story though and where it was heading this or something similar had to occur. Flat on her face and covered in mud she meets Jack a rich, relaxed bachelor (played by Patrick Dempsey). Now all cleaned up Bridget and Camilla are seen enjoying the festival and all it has to offer. There is a really good and clever bit that recognises that Bridget and Camilla are now not as young as they used to be. This is when they recognise David Dickinson from the TV series, Bargain Hunt, (you have, as I see it, have to be a certain age to remember him presenting the show) and not Ed Sheeran (playing himself) the modern day singer.  Incidentally the sound track is very well thought out and enhances the movie.

We then see Bridget a little worse for wear with drink, trying to find her way back to the tent. She thinks she has found it, she walks in and among her ramblings about relationship activities, it is a little obvious it is not her tent and in actual fact it is Jacks tent, who believes her spending the night is more than just a one-night stand. When he appears in the morning with breakfast in hand, we find that Bridget is gone.

As the film moves forward we now see Bridget attending a Christening. One of the Godparents has dropped out, this leads to Bridget and Mark both taking on the roles and being reunited again. However, the next morning Bridget has gone again, this time leaving a note. This part of the film really shows that Bridget has matured as she says in the letter the differences between the two of them are why they split before, and why the split now – she can’t see the relationship working, much to Mark’s disappointment.

There is just one small hitch; Bridget finds out she is pregnant and she doesn’t know who the father is. It could be Jack or Mark. An example of good script writing, is when Bridget is questioning Doctor Rawlings (played by Emma Thompson) the doctor quickly works out there maybe two possible fathers. This is perfect as the doctors’ intelligence is shown. This made me feel satisfied that the script had been written right, as opposed to what I have seen in the past, where a character has been let down intellectually as the script hasn’t let them work out something simple. Also the way Bridget tells Mark and Jack that they both involved in the situation is very well written and acted. The ante-natal class is a funny scene when the conclusion (that Jack and Mark are a couple and Bridget is a surrogate) the instructor has jumped to is acted upon by Jack towards Mark.

This film has some very funny moments when you see her mum (played by Gemma Jones) making a hash of face time on a mobile phone, why you shouldn’t talk on a mobile near a work microphone, why you should have a delay when streaming for a live broadcast/presentation, why you should clear your internet searches more often or be careful what you search for, and that you should check you are interviewing the right person. All these make a good film and shows an insight into Bridget’s life and people can also relate to what is happening as we all make mistakes in one form or another.

Bridget has matured a little throughout the film and realises what an important responsibility having a baby is, despite losing/quitting her job, the speech she gave her boss before leaving showed some wisdom.

Mark who has now become more relaxed in his ways and Jack who has now become more responsible throughout the film, become friends at the end and we find out who the father is in a long drawn out scene at the wedding of Bridget and the father of her baby. This is well done as it keeps you guessing and after throwing in a few red-herrings, we finally get to the truth.

However, it is not, it seems, over yet, as some information has come to light and this could lead to another chapter in Bridget’s life and another Bridget Jones film.