The 35th MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) film and the fourth Bridget Jones film were both released here Wednesday. I've seen all the previous 34 films in the MCU and none of the Bridget Jones ones. But as the pachinko ball of press screenings landed, I ended up at the "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy" screening.
Bridget Jones is a fictional character created by British author and journalist Helen Fielding. When we first meet her, she's a 30-something Londoner trying to navigate life and find love. There are four books in the series and 15 million copies have been sold worldwide. The previous three movies have made about $740 million at the box office, making it a successful rom com franchise.
Bridget Jones is pretty much my contemporary. This latest installment finds her trying to juggle raising two kids (both of whom she must have had in her late forties if you do the math), returning to the workforce and trying to date again after the loss of her beloved Mr. Mark Darcy (Colin Firth).
Leo Woodall, who I know from the second season of "The White Lotus," is Roxter, the young man she meets while trying to rescue her kids who can't get down from a tree in the park. Woodall seems to be in demand at the moment with the lead role in an Apple TV show called "Prime Target" and a movie called "Nuremberg" with Russell Crowe, Rami Malek and Michael Shannon.
You can add "Mad About the Boy" to the current crop of films with a young man/ older woman pairing — there's "Family Affair" and "Baby Girl" with Nicole Kidman, "The Idea of You," with Anne Hathaway and the upcoming "Good Sex" with Natalie Portman.
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I could guess where the plot was going, but in a romcom predictability might be a source of anticipation and comfort for the viewer.
Apart from Firth, franchise favorites Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson are back as Daniel Cleaver and Dr. Rawlings. In the same way Antonio Banderas can play charming, but sometimes devious or looney treasure hunters, Hugh Grant can play an incorrigible cad in his sleep. Dr. Rawlings is also always ready with clever quips and words of wisdom.
Also joining the cast are Chiwetel Eijofor as a science teacher and Nico Parker as a game changing super nanny.
"Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy" strikes me as more of a Christmas film as it involves cute kids, family and familiar friends. The snow falls and it's set over the holidays. But I suppose it works for this time of year too.
Speaking of "Captain America: Brave New World," I haven't seen it as of this writing but I recall my time with Harrison Ford last July.
He takes on the role of US President Thaddeus Ross, and at the Marvel panel for Comic Con he said "I'll make no reference to current history. None."
At my quick one on one discussing his role as president, he also said, "So far, happily, we have not had a president who's had the ability to turn into a Hulk." After which he gave a wink and said, "That's a subject I really don't want to continue to talk about very much."
Considering the current political climate in the US, I'm wondering how this fares or what sort of statement it'll make.
To those of you headed out to the movies, I hope traffic won't be bad and the ones driving cars can find parking.