Getting on for a decade after the last film, the fourth film of the Bridget Jones series is perhaps unexpectedly very good indeed, doing so by not being a typical rom-com but a rather poignant study of grief, acceptance, relationships and parenthood, following the slight shift away from its ditsy comedy roots that was emerging in the previous entry. With the extended prologue capably revealing what has happened in Bridget's life in the intervening years, the passage of time finds the main characters mostly approaching middle age, giving the movie a more mature, reflective and thoughtful outlook, ditching the broader silly comedy elements but with some flashes and call-backs to signature funny moments that work well and some killer responses and one-liners along the way. Zellweger naturally owns the movie, making Bridget still chaotic but with a wonderfully measured depth here, but both of her love interests - the younger Leo Woodall and her son's science teacher Chiwetel Ejiofor - have genuine character arcs of their own and give excellent performances. Hugh Grant has become the secret weapon for any movie recently, here including an hilariously-delivered early scene with Bridget's children and a heartbreaking later one that he nails perfectly, and the many returning characters give the film a familiar warmth. Along the way, there are genuine moments of unadulterated joy and pure melancholy that make this a slick, professional, well-made and yet surprising and very heartfelt entertaining movie.
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