Hey KCR kids! This week’s topic: Bridget Jones’s Baby. FYI, I’ll be alternating between writing music and entertainment articles for the blog, so expect the occasional movie review or tv show rant along with the random music reviews and concert recommendations.

15 years after the original and 12 years after the sequel, Bridget Jones is back.

Renee Zellweger and Colin Firth reprise their roles as the always-getting-herself-into-scrapes Bridget Jones and the stoic-as-a-rock-yet-incredibly-charming Mark Darcy.  Missing from the new film is Darcy’s constant rival and massive player, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant). Grant’s absence is felt, but the film does give a nice nod to his character.

The new film remains true to the original. It also has a fresh feel though thanks to Patrick Dempsey and the incomparable Emma Thompson. Dempsey’s character Jack, a dashing American millionaire, replaces Grant as the third point in the romantic comedy must-have love triangle.

For those who need a refresher, when we last left Bridget she’d just been freed from jail and gotten engaged to Mark Darcy.  12 years later, she’s a successful television producer and proudly declares that she’s finally reached her ideal weight. However, her romantic life didn’t quite work out as she planned. At the start Bridget Jones’s Baby, Bridget finds herself single and alone once again.

After an encounter with a very large puddle of mud, Bridget has a one night stand with charming stranger Jack. This encounter is followed by an unexpectedly romantic reunion with her ex Mark. In what would be a surprising turn of events (if not for the film’s title and spoiler-filled trailers), Bridget finds herself pregnant, and clueless about which man is the father.

Misadventure ensues.

A lot has changed in 12 years, including Bridget. She is much tamer this time around. It’s satisfying to see how she’s matured in both her personal and professional life, but there’s also a sense of loss. It was her quirky ridiculousness that made her stand out. Her toned-down personality, although appropriate and perhaps even necessary to her character development, makes the film lose an element of the former films’ uniqueness.

That said, the film is hilarious and a must-see for fans of the original.  While it falls prey to the predictability that defines almost all romantic comedies, it still stands out.

Bridget is a confident and independent female. That’s not something often seen in these types of films. While she can be rather insensible and has entertainingly poor decision-making skills, Bridget is always and unapologetically herself. She’s impossible not to root for. Her victory is the viewer’s victory.

The film received a 77% on Rotten Tomatoes. I completely agree with the Tomatometer. It may not be winning any awards or pushing the artistic limits of film, but Bridget Jones’s Baby is a funny, charming and heartfelt film that I 100% recommend.