No SPOILERS!
The only reason I watched the Bridget Jones series was to see Hugh Grant, so I didn’t bother with the third one, which he skipped. But he’s back for the fourth and final one. As Bridget’s ex-boyfriend, he has slid into the role of being a devoted friend to her and an indulgent Uncle-like figure to her children.
From the moment we spot him in Mad About the Boy, Grant’s Daniel steals the show. He‘s in a bar listening to his much-younger girlfriend fervently recite a poem at what appears to be an ‘open mic’ poetry night when Bridget calls to confirm that he‘s coming over as promised to babysit her kids. What we see first is his phone moniker for her, clearly from years ago when they dated: Dirty Dirty Bitch.”
The ringing of the phone disrupts his girlfriend mid-sentence and the audience turns to him, annoyed. After promising Bridget he hadn’t forgotten her (he clearly had), he turns to the crowd and says: “I’m so sorry, it’s my Mother. She’s in the hospital.” And then in a very audible whisper, loud enough to be overheard, says to Bridget “I will be there quicker than it took me to bring you to an earth-shattering orgasm, you filthy little harlot.”
And we’re off. He is still a cad who has clearly not spent the years since we last saw him maturing into a worthy romantic partner, but he is funnier than ever. All of the best laughs in the film come when he’s on screen, and they’re good.
Though he hasn’t grown as a romantic lead, there is also a great deal that has matured in Daniel’s relationship with Bridget. They have become wonderful friends who know each other deeply, accept each other completely (his caddishness, her goofball-ness), enjoy each other’s company and take care of each other. In some sense, it is their friendship that is the love that is ultimately at the core of this final Bridget Jones and we appreciate that it is meaningful to each of them, as unexpected as it is touching and fun to watch.
The Crush Letter
The Crush Letter is a weekly newsletter from Dish Stanley curating articles & intelligence on everything love & connection - friendship, romance, self-love, sex. If you’d like to take a look at some of our best stories go to Read Us. Want the Dish?
