Despite the fact that I can watch the same television show a thousand times, there are very few movies that I would sit down to watch again. I do enjoy watching movies, but for some reason, I rarely watch them twice. The Bridget Jones film series is an exception to this rule, however. Even though I originally watched them years ago at a very different time in my life, I find that when I watch them again they are just as entertaining. 

The Bridget Jones film series follows Bridget Jones, played by Renée Zellweger, in three different movies that span from 2001 to 2016. For me, the series was an instant favorite, and even though the first movie aired over two decades ago, they still are interesting and relevant today. Bridget Jones is a relatable and slightly awkward character who tends to overthink things. The first movie, “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” shows Bridget in her 30s trying to figure out her life, especially her love life. 

While most romantic comedies show cute meetings and funny stories, Bridget’s story does not go so smoothly. She is a character who is not afraid to speak her mind even if she does not understand the full situation, which often leads her into awkward interactions. Despite this, her knack for getting into these situations just makes her even more relatable, especially for people who also tend to put their foot in their mouth.

The story is also  loosely based on Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” with one of Bridget’s love interest being aptly named Mr. Darcy, who seems to be close to the perfect man. Ironically, the actor who plays him, Colin Firth, also starred in a 1995 adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice” on BBC. While the story might be inspired by Austen’s classic novel, it has a 21st century spin that gives the storyline some unexpected twists that were definitely not in her original novel.

In the second movie, “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason,” which takes place soon after the first, Bridget seems to have finally figured out her love life after her tumultuous journey in the first movie. However, her professional and love life continue to throw obstacles at her. The movie shows that happy endings aren’t always what they are made out to be and sometimes getting what you want does not guarantee the perfect situation.

In the final movie, “Bridget Jones’s Baby,” Bridget’s story continues more than a decade after the previous movie. Despite such a long break, the movie still captures the original essence of the movie series. Bridget continues to find herself in somewhat ludicrous situations, but this time she also has to deal with it while being pregnant. 

The story brings back most of the main and side characters, but quite a few years older. Unlike the other movies, the last one brings a sense of nostalgia, and it shows that everyone eventually has to grow up and move on from the past.

Although I thought I wouldn’t enjoy the third movie because of the large age gap between me and the characters, I was surprised to find that I actually enjoyed the time jump. It is not often that movies come back after so many years with the main cast, so it felt special to have a reunion happen. Also, since the original movies came out before I was born, it was interesting to see the differences in the quality and making of the movie.

I originally thought that the first two movies were sufficient in wrapping up Bridget Jones’s story, but “Bridget Jones’s Baby” manages to be an even more satisfying conclusion to a 15-year-long movie series run. 

Overall, the whole movie series does an excellent job of taking tropes from more traditional love stories and creating the ultimate romantic comedies while still being refreshing and original. Any of the three movies are perfect to watch on a rainy day, and they never fail to make me laugh.