Yes, that’s Bridget

Here’s Renee Zellweger this week on the set of the new Bridget Jones movie shooting in England. Ant Antstead came to see her at one point, which is sweet, but this is not the love interest that interests me. 

First though, let’s talk about Bridget, specifically the look of Bridget. And she’s there, that is indeed Bridget. We’re looking at a very Bridget expression and a very Bridget outfit – so shout out to the costume designer for understanding the assignment.

As for the story, I haven’t really f-cked with Bridget since the first two movies, but I’m excited about this one because Bridget’s on her own now, single mother of two children, she’s 51 years old and getting back into dating. I’m not sure when they’re setting this but I hope it’s current enough that we see Bridget, the mess that she is, swiping on dating apps and getting nude pic requests and cocking it all up the way she always does. 

And then there’s the cast. Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant are returning but it’s the actors playing the new characters that’s really making it that much more appealing, at least for me. 

Leo Woodall has joined as Bridget’s much-younger lover. This is… PERFECT. Leo Woodall is exactly who should be f-cking Bridget through her grief. And then Chiwetel Ejiofor, a teacher at Bridget’s kids’ school who is stern and grumpy and finds Bridget exasperating and, well, I’m sure you know where this is going and this, too, is a delightful piece of casting. Is Helen Fielding following a formula? Of course. Is she following her own formula from her own previous stories? Absolutely. Am I mad about it? Not at all – a formula never hurt a rom-com, and formulas can sparkle with the right actors, the right pacing. Leo Woodall and Chiwetel Ejiofor as the updated Daniel Cleaver and Mark Darcy taking Bridget into middle age? The potential is there! Am I the only one who’s excited about this?! Let me know at The Squawk! (app link here)