Friday, 25 March
1___lbs. (Like I’m going to put that on the internet.), 5 alcohol units (By the time this post goes live, that number is more than likely to increase.), 0 cigarettes (I don’t smoke, so v.g.), calories ? (I have no idea but that grande mocha didn’t help.)
If you’re wondering why I’m revealing all this morning and have no idea what the above means, then clearly you were not a Bridget Jones fan. But if you are, and you still write your caloric intake in your diary, then you know by now the news that made every girl and woman from the late 90’s jump in glee:
Bridget Jones’s back and surprise! She’s pregnant!
It was twenty years ago (go ahead and take a shot because yes, it was that long ago) that Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones became a mainstay on our bookshelves, giving us a heroine that we essentially saw in the mirror each day. The book was a best seller and sparked the sequel Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, so naturally Hollywood did what they do best: take a well-constructed story, shave it down to two hours, change some if not 99% of the plot, throw in an actress from Texas to play a woman from England, and somehow include Celine Dion on the soundtrack. Also, include Mr. Darcy himself, Colin Firth.
What was the result? The 2001 film adaptation that actually met almost all readers’ exceptions. (Yes, I put “almost all.” I saved my ass on that one.) Renee Zellweger was Bridget Jones, complete with horrific bunny costume, zero culinary skills, and granny panties.
And then the 2004 sequel came out and the film didn’t exactly live up to what we expect from our favorite Londoner.
Sure, there were some great parts (Best line: “By the way, is it true he always says, ‘I’m sorry, I think I’m going to come’?”), but the recycled story bits (Seriously, another middle aged men fight?) and frumpy wardrobe choices made us wish for the Jones of 2001. And yet, that film still had us smiling when Bridget accepted Mark Darcy’s proposal. All’s well that ends well.
Or so we thought.
Fast forward to 2013: Helen Fielding decided it was time to bring Bridge back in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. We would finally learn the “after” in Bridget and Mark’s happily ever after. And then the news hit and all Bridget Jones fans were in collective mourning: (SPOILER ALERT……YOU’VE BEEN WARNED.)
Bridget Jones was a widow and had to reenter the dating world.
And so, when it was announced that there would be a third Bridget Jones film, I was ready for the resurrection of Mark Darcy.
Bridget Jones’s Baby brings us back to London and the ever going dilemma that is Bridget’s love life: she and Mark are not married (some sites reported that they’re divorce while others are claiming that it’s just a failed engagement), she’s still trying to find herself (with the help of Ed Sheeran?), and her feelings are torn between an American millionaire (played by the man who never ages, Patrick Dempsey) and her great love (Colin Firth! Pick him! Pick him!).
And then there’s this twist: Bridget is pregnant and doesn’t know who the father is. (Insert Days of Our Lives music here.)
Okay, so personally, I’m not too crazy about this twist. And the fact that Bridget and Mark are not together? *Head slap* Although I was not thrilled by the celluloid version of Edge of Reason, we did get to see that Bridget was able to navigate her own way back to herself and the man she loves. And yes, I understand that the path through adulthood is not always paved smoothly. There’a few bumps and cracks in the road and the journey doesn’t always go as planned. (That’s it. That’s all the travel metaphors I have in me at the moment.) But this Bridget? Well, I was expecting something a little more.
At the same time, I did miss the awkwardness between Bridget and Mark, the overbearing and sometimes too candid mother, and those moments of pure, utter embarrassment.
So, welcome back, Bridget Jones. You’ve been missed.
Bridget Jones’s Baby arrives to theaters this September.
What do you think? Are you ready for some more Bridget?
