Alex B Cann Film Blog - 20th Feb 2025

The return of the Bridget Jones franchise has been a huge fillip for cinemas, with Bridget Jones : Mad About The Boy taking an incredible £11.8 million in its first four days, breaking a rom com record originally set by the second Bridget film Edge Of Reason, which made £10 million in 2004 (although that figure would of course be more now with inflation). Bridget didn't even get a cinema release in America, heading straight to Peacock, Universal's streaming service. Much like Robbie Williams, she's not very well loved in the States, it seems.

Having read a two star review in the Guardian, I have to question whether their film critic watched the same film, as I loved every minute. I wasn't expecting to need a tissue, but other critics have spoken about the film's unexpected poignant moments, and they are not wrong. Hugh Grant apparently wrote some of his character Daniel Cleaver's lines himself, and doesn't disappoint in providing the laughs. From his vintage Motorola flip phone to his saucy one-liners, his friendship with Bridget is rather sweet and touching. We also see his more vulnerable side.

Bridget still wears her cosy pyjamas, even on the school run, and lives in a whirlwind of chaos. She ends up climbing a 'magical man tree', signing up for Tinder, and attracting the attention of Roxster (played by One Day star Leo Woodall) and her son's science teacher (a whistle blowing Chiwetel Ejiofor). It felt like spending time with old friends, and I loved seeing the gang back together, not to mention more laughs provided by Emma Thompson. There's even a knowing reference to Colin Firth's wet shirt scene in Pride and Prejudice.

Without spoiling anything, I would definitely advise taking a box of tissues. This was the best Bridget Jones film since the original in 2001, without question, and unexpectedly deep. Jim Broadbent makes an appearance, albeit briefly, with a nice line about Harry Styles, and Colin Firth's Mr Darcy also only appears fleetingly as a ghostly presence. Hugh Grant has never been better, and I loved all of it. The big pants, the All By Myself singalong, that Christmas jumper...I now plan to go back in time and watch the first three Bridget films on Sky Cinema and have a nostalgia fest, before seeing the fourth one again. Romantic comedy perfection.

Dog Man kept my eight year old nephew's attention throughout. Imaginative, entertaining, and well written, we follow the adventures of the half-dog, half-man crime fighter, whose arch rival is evil orange cat Petey (voiced by Pete Davidson). Ricky Gervais is on hilarious form as the intelligent, wisecracking fish Flippy, and there are some great visual gags along with plenty of laughs in the script. Fun for the whole family during the half term holidays, and parents will giggle almost as much as the kids will. I gather the books are pretty decent too! The best animation I've seen since The Wild Robot.

Next week, new horror film The Monkey.