If you’re looking to fill the Bridget Jones sized hole in your heart as the final film is out, these favourites will fill the void …
Bridget Jones Diary: Mad About The Boy
In the fourth and final film in the series, Bridget navigates life as a widow and single mother with the help of her family, friends and former lover, the infamous Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant). The ensemble cast of her ever-supportive and entertaining friends Shazzer (Sally Phillips), Jude (Shirley Henderson) and Tom (James Callis), work colleague Miranda (Sarah Solemani) and her gynecologist Dr Rawlings (Emma Thompson) bring the magic back to the screen for one last hurrah!
Back to work and on Tinder, she’s pursued by a younger man Roxster (Leo Woodall), while her son’s science teacher Mr Walliker (Chiwetel Ejiofer) becomes a shoulder to cry on. Bridget’s father (Jim Broadbent), her mother (Gemma Jones) return, with nostalgic flashbacks of Mark Darcy (Colin Firth). Oh, Mr Darcy …
“They want to meet up with her again to see how she’s grown and how her life has changed – how she’s dealing with her current challenges.” Renée Zellweger
Why do we all love Bridge so much? Zellweger says of her iconic role, “It’s such an interesting thing for a fictional character to move through life at the same pace as the folks who relate to her and love her. People feel that they can see themselves reflected in Bridget’s life experiences. This is felt universally by those who have grown up with Bridget.”
Another reason for Bridget’s likeability is her relatable wardrobe. Every piece of clothing feels lived-in, which was intentional according to costume designer Molly Emma Rowe (The Swimmers, The Last Kingdom). From turning up in a ‘Playboy’ bunny outfit to a family garden party, rocking a miniskirt sliding down a firefighter pole on live TV, and running in the snow in nothing but a cardigan and animal print pants to find her man, she’s back in her cute penguin pjs on the school run, with Bridge even saying, “All the women in Milan are wearing pyjamas now!” Some cinemas are even holding pyjama screenings (although we advise checking before you show up in your comfies …)
We recommend catching up on these classics before and after your Bridget fix, and have fun spotting the crossovers of some of your favourite actors. You know where to find us this weekend …
FOR THE ROMANCE
Bridget Jones’s Diary, Prime Video
Bridget captivated us all with the first film in 2001 when she starts keeping a diary in an attempt to take control of her life. This is the first time we meet the amazing cast and we were hooked immediately. Also important to catch up on is Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason from 2004 and Bridget Jones’s Baby in 2016.
Pride & Prejudice, BBC iPlayer
The OG love/hate story that Bridget is loosely based on, transport yourself to Austen-land with this production featuring the original Darcy, also played by Firth. While you’re in the mood for Miss Austen, the new series is also worth a watch.
Pride & Prejudice, Apple TV
You’ll either love the BBC series or this 2005 adaptation … there’s no in-between! Starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfayden, from later Succession fame, it received four nominations at the 78th Academy Awards, including Best Actress for the 20-year-old Knightley, making her the third-youngest nominee at the time.
Sense & Sensibility, Apple TV
The 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen’s other acclaimed novel, this stellar cast also includes Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson (who wrote the screenplay as a first-time screenwriter) and Gemma Jones, with a young Kate Winslet for good measure. It earned seven Academy Awards nominations, including for Best Picture and Best Actress, while Thompson won for Best Adapted Screenplay, becoming the only person to have won Academy Awards for both acting and screenwriting.
FOR THE FRIENDS
Four Weddings And A Funeral, Apple TV
This is the first of several films by talented screenwriter Richard Curtis to star Hugh Grant, with Andie MacDowell his American love interest, and his circle of friends all delivering outstanding performances. The film was made in six short weeks and became the highest-grossing British film in history at the time. It received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay, while it won the BAFTA Award for Best Film, Best Direction, Best Actor (Grant) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Kristin Scott Thomas.
Notting Hill, Netflix
Another must-watch from Curtis with – guess who? – Hugh and another American sweetheart, Julia Roberts. Again, it’s the epic friend group that make this film memorable. Each sidekick is a main character in their own right, with a young Hugh Bonneville before his Downton Abbey days, while Rhys Ifans steals the show. Released in 1999, it was the highest-grossing British film of all time. It received three Golden Globes nominations – Best Motion Picture, Best Actor (Grant) and Best Actress (Roberts) – and also won a Brit Award for its soundtrack.
About Time, Amazon Prime
This 2013 rom-com sci-fi drama – an unusual combination – written and directed by (you guessed it) Curtis stars the only Irishman on the list, Domhnall Gleeson. Rachel McAdams running through London reminds us of Bridget, as does her dad, played by Bill Nighy. The only question remains: which one is your favourite?
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy in cinemas and streaming on Peacock in the US
