Bridget Jones 'Mad About the Boy' (2025) Review: Marking the End of an Era

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (2025) is the long-awaited return of the beloved character. We have watched Bridget fall in and out of love, get married and have children. Now, we see Bridget entering a new stage of her life, being a single mum after the loss of Mark Darcy. This feature has some genuinely tear-jerking moments, it is tender and touching along with being witty and wise. As we drift into an emotional moment we are swept up into a hilarious punch line, the pacing of this film was brilliant and there was never a dull moment. 

The character of the messy, unapologetic, clumsy, relatable British Bridget is still just as important and lovable as ever, even 20 years on from the first feature. Some may say four Bridget Jones films is too many, well to that I say, lighten up. Characters like Bridget Jones mean a lot to modern audiences, seeing characters that reflect the mundane and sometimes chaotic side of life gives a new perspective from the usual. Real women aren’t perfect, real people aren’t faultless but instead we are all just trying to get by. Bridget Jones embodies this idea through her relatability, she represents a world of women. René Zellwger continues to give an authentic and hilarious performance which never fails to put a smile on my face, from the first film to now she is Bridget Jones and makes you fall in love with her with ease.  

Leo Woodall and Chiwetel Ejiofor were excellent new additions to the cast, both representing different stages of Bridget’s life and both were able to give her clarity and self-worth. They had great chemistry with Zellweger and had some hilarious moments. Emma Thompson is a star, although her scenes were small and little forced into the plot, I thought she had some of the most memorable jokes and acted as a guide for Bridget. 

I can’t see René Zellweger in any other role, she simply is Bridget Jones and I think that is the same for a lot of people. She isn’t afraid to be messy and silly, she doesn’t shy away from the awkward or uncomfortable scenes and that is why these films are so brilliant. Zellweger is magnificent and just as hilarious as ever. 

Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver, heart throb sleaze-ball turned doted best friend (maybe still a little bit of a sleaze ball). Hugh Grant is the charismatic, charming, hilarious glue that keeps this film together. Although some may argue his return to the franchise is a little unexpected, I was incredibly pleased to see his character again.  

I rate the first Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) incredibly highly and I can be a harsh critic when it comes to flogging a dead horse but this film was a meaningful and memorable goodbye. Mad About the Boy (2025) marks the end of an era, it closes the chapter on Bridget’s life in a truly moving and heartfelt way. I had to wipe a few tears through the course of this film because you do believe you know these characters, audiences have grown with them and I thought this was a satisfying end to a beautiful tale of self acceptance, growth, motherhood and happiness. 

Probe Points 

★★★☆☆