Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy review

If anyone can be relied upon to grow older disgracefully, yet adorably, it is Bridget Jones.

The fourth film in the series based on Helen Fielding's hapless heroine isn't just hilarious: it's very moving. Renée Zellweger reprises her role as Bridget, now living in North London with her two young children.

Having married the love of her life, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), she was tragically widowed four years ago.

So the Bridget we first meet is grieving: it's a surprisingly emotional opening.

After her friends persuade her to start dating again, she catches the attention of a younger man, Roxster (Leo Woodall) and has a series of excruciating encounters with a teacher at her kids' school, Mr Wallaker (Chiwetel Ejiofor).

You'll be glad to know that Emma Thompson's Dr Rawlings and Hugh Grant's Daniel Cleaver are on hand for humour as well as pathos.

While this film makes great comic work of Bridget's relatable mishaps, it also explores the challenges of dating, parenting and going back to work in midlife.

It's both a blast of nostalgia and a reflection of life in our changing times.

Bridget is back - and she's even better in her mature years.