The latest Bridget Jones film has smashed the UK box office record for a romantic comedy, raking in £11.8m in just four days after its release.
However, despite glowing reviews for the fourth instalment – Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy – it has sparked fury among some viewers over a specific scene.
The plot sees Renee Zellweger reprising her role as Bridget, now a single mum to Billy and Mabel following the death of her husband Mark Darcy, played by Colin Firth.
One scene shows the family releasing balloons with attached letters written for their late father, the M.E.N reports.
Given the well-known environmental impact of balloon releases, this has incensed some cinema-goers, with claims they ‘wouldn’t have gone’ had they known about this scene.
A Facebook post discussing the emotional scene has been shared on a litter picking group, garnering dozens of responses.
One user commented: “Surely they know the harm these acts cause. Appalling example to set, it is littering.” Another added: “I was horrified! How could they possibly promote this! Totally irresponsible.”
A third chimed in: “So ridiculous in this day and age – And so I loudly proclaimed this in the cinema too. The amount of people that will, no doubt, copy this “sentimental” tribute is what makes me especially angry – if BJD can do it why can’t they? ! ! Ffs.”
The decision to depict a balloon release in the movie has sparked outrage among viewers, with many taking to social media to express their discontent.
One Facebook user remarked: “There are so many alternative options that the writers could have used. How did this get through all the stages before the making of the actual film. The mind boggles.”
Others shared similar sentiments on another Facebook page, with another saying: “I hated the balloon scene. How irresponsible,” while someone else echoed: “It’s irresponsible and gross. Balloons don’t go to heaven, they just litter the countryside and threaten wildlife. Anyone who does this is a moron.”
In contrast, Universal Pictures has highlighted the film’s sustainable production practices in a YouTube video, stating: “Bridget Jones is back – and our favourite characters aren’t the only thing to love about the newest film!
“In addition to featuring the great outdoors, we love that #BridgetJonesMovie included some cool green jobs and sustainable actions on screen, while also reducing their environmental footprint behind the scenes with battery technology, material donations and reuse, and more.”
Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, who plays teacher Mr Walliker, is shown saying: “I’m proud that we’ve partnered with Universal’s GreenerLight programme to find ways to embed sustainability throughout the making of this film.”
He adds: “Sustainability can mean so many things in our industry, from the stories we tell, the environmental impact on our sets, engaging audiences through marketing and social platforms and more.”
Production designer Kave Quinn revealed: “Any props that we get, if we can’t sell them at the end, [we] always recycle them to charities.”
Additionally, set director Penny Crawford mentioned: “If something is bought for the film they ‘try to use it again, or repurpose it’.”
Universal has proudly acknowledged the sustainable efforts made during the making of the Bridget Jones movie and the romantic comedy Love Hurts, stating both films have “embraced sustainability”.
Elaborating on their environmental measures, the statement read: “The production team prioritized using grid electricity where possible, and when filming on stage at Sky Studios Elstree and on location at Film London’s Victoria Park grid tie (funded in part by NBCUniversal) 100% of the electricity used was matched with renewables. When grid power was inaccessible, they relied on sixteen battery units and generators fuelled by renewable diesel, a sustainable alternative to diesel fuel that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90%.”
Furthermore, the studio explained: “The crew used electric and hybrid vehicles to get around London and harnessed solar power for portable restrooms and a hybrid generator. All of these actions combined avoided approximately 44% of the production’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions – cutting the carbon footprint nearly in half.
“The production also reused props and brought back familiar wardrobe from previous films, embracing circular fashion and set design. Props and costumes that could be donated at the end of production were given to local charities and organizations including Sterts Theatre, Salvation Army, WRAP, and No Floor No More.”