‘Bridget Jones’s Baby’ Review Roundup: Renee Zellweger’s Third Time As Bridget A Hit With Critics

Bridget Jones’s Baby, returning Renee Zellweger as the unlucky in love British singleton, has won over critics ahead of its opening weekend.

In the third installment of the Bridget Jones franchise, Bridget is a 43-year-old TV producer, who has been divorced from Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), the former love of her life, for five years. In the span of less than two weeks, Bridget sleeps with ex-husband Mark – and American millionaire Jack (Patrick Dempsey), who she meets at Glastonbury. As Bridget muddles her way through a confusing pregnancy and feelings for two good men, the laughs abound.

Bridget Jones’s Baby Review

While the second Bridget Jones flick – the Edge of Reason – left critics unenthused, the third movie is something of a return to form for the movies based on Helen Fielding‘s bestselling novels. Chief among the delights of Bridget Jones’s Baby, per critics, is Zellweger relishing re-inhabiting the character that endeared her to audiences.

“Who knew Bridget’s return could be so glorious? Impossibly, Bridget Jones’s Baby might be the funniest film in the series. […] Not only does Zellweger still look very much like Bridget, she imbues the role with the same ungainly charm that made audiences fall in love with her in the first place.It’s hard to think of another actress who could make the character’s habitual incompetence so appealing.” – Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic

“The result is pretty delightful. Zellweger is lovely as Bridget – dropping right back into the proper accent, recreating that same self-deprecating charm, while facing new pressures at home and at work. Still, this is a light, charming romantic comedy, ably carried by two good sports and one appealing star. And if the final fade-out feels a little pat and easy to you – be kind. No one’s worked harder for her own happy ending than Bridget Jones.” – Stephen Whitty, Star-Ledger

“A fuzzy blanket of nostalgia pervades “Bridget Jones’s Baby,” an uneven but fitfully funny sequel to the massive 2001 hit “Bridget Jones’s Diary.” Even considering its optimistic, open-ended conclusion, “Bridget Jones’s Baby” feels like an affectionate, slightly overdue goodbye to characters whose time has inevitably passed.” – Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post

“On its way to the requisite happy ending, the film jumps through plenty of outrageous, can-you-top-this? hoops. I especially enjoyed the lunacy of having the prim and proper Darcy in court arguing a case for a Russian feminist punk rock band that looks, and acts, a lot like Pussy Riot. Even when the film doesn’t track logically — and often it doesn’t, laughs being the top priority — it’s entertaining. Like Bridget, it’s a mess, but an adorable one.” – Colin Covert, On its way to the requisite happy ending, the film jumps through plenty of outrageous, can-you-top-this? hoops. I especially enjoyed the lunacy of having the prim and proper Darcy in court arguing a case for a Russian feminist punk rock band that looks, and acts, a lot like Pussy Riot. Even when the film doesn’t track logically — and often it doesn’t, laughs being the top priority — it’s entertaining. Like Bridget, it’s a mess, but an adorable one.”>Minneapolis Star Tribune

Bridget Jones’s Baby is currently in theaters.