Girlfailure

My favorite trope

Okay, I’m late. I’m sorry, but what were you expecting? I’m always a little late. I’m working on it – clearly.

Anywho let’s get down to what’s new. Bridget Jones, that’s what. This past Friday, Valentine’s Day, the latest Bridget Jones movie dropped and we’re gonna talk about it.

I spent the past weekend watching the entire Bridget Jones franchise in preparation for the new film since I’d only seen the first and it was definitely a journey. Bridget Jones as a character is marketed as relatable and that she is. She is messy and embarrassing as we all are. She is a classic “girlfailure”, my favorite character to watch. For those who don’t know, a “girlfailure” is the antithesis of a “girlboss”. See image below for definition.

I love girlfailures and hold them near and dear to my heart. How can you not? They are all of us. They are deeply embarrassing in a way all of us can relate to. They don’t have to succeed but rather exist. They are losers and underdogs. Bridget Jones is a fantastic example. She is the ultimate girlfailure. She is self-sabotaging in a way I as an overthinker can deeply relate to. Bridget Jones is a goofy romantic comedy throughout the franchise so upon starting the recent installment I felt genuinely shocked.

Before we dive into it, my letterboxd review:

“And suddenly I realized that despite the passage of time, once girl, always a girl”

I love Letterboxd. If you don’t know, it’s like Goodreads for movies. Back to Bridget. Bridget is now in her early fifties as the movie opens and you sadly learn in the past four years her husband THE MARK DARCY (legend Colin Firth) and her father have passed away. So sad. She got her happily ever after and then it all went away. Or so she thought…

The film is a poignant take on finding love and magic all around us in every moment and living life to the fullest because you never know when tragedy may strike. Bridget comes to find Mark Darcy lives on in her and her children and she can hold space for him while falling in love once again. This film made me cry five times throughout its runtime. It is heartbreaking but also a prompt reminder that despite the darkness surrounding us in the world right now we can still have love and magic, and we should.

I watched this film alongside my mother, of a similar age to Bridget and it brought to the forefront of my mind once again that she too, is just a girl. She too, is living life for the first time. We all are and therefore should give each other grace. This life thing is not easy, that’s for sure. In a world filled with so much hate and darkness, we must keep the light shining for ourselves and those around us. We must lean on each other, as Bridget leans on her community, in times of need. So thank you, Bridget Jones, for that apt reminder.

With love and compassion,

Keaton, The Delusional Darling