I’m not referring to the obvious tearjerkers here, like My Girl or The Bridge To Terabithia. I don’t mean movies intended to pull at our heartstrings or prey on our deepest fears as parents. I mean those totally innocuous fun movies. Family movies. KIDS movies. Rewatching some of my all-time favorite movies with my kids, excited to share the experience, I realized something disconcerting. Having kids no longer allows me to watch movies with the same suspension of reality.
There are a million shows and movies aimed towards kids that have most adults scratching their heads and wondering where in the heck are the parents? The cartoon Masha and the Bear comes to mind pretty quickly. But after a few episodes, I considered the possibility that they up and left her to her own mischievous devices on purpose. Regardless, I understand that it’s necessary to have absent or oblivious parents for certain plots. So let’s talk about a few movies I loved before having kids, but now leave me with a heavy heart. Spoilers ahead.
Monsters Inc.
First of all, how old is Boo? She’s fully potty trained, can sing the potty song flawlessly start to finish, but doesn’t know her own name. She can also say the word kitty, but no mention of mommy or daddy. In fact, she doesn’t seem to miss her parents at all. I know my kids can’t go very long without wondering where I am, especially around bedtime. Speaking of mom and dad, those poor people! Boo is gone for at least two nights – do they think she’s been kidnapped?! The whole movie I’m internally wringing my hands worried for these imaginary people who are agonizing over the disappearance of their little girl. I’m always surprised that when she returns to her room in the end, she’s not met by flashing lights, a room full of caution tape, and FBI agents.
Big
The first time I saw this I was about 10-years-old and I’ve seen it at least a hundred times since. We watched this fun family comedy a few years ago with the kids and it left me unexpectedly gutted. Again, the parents believe their child has been abducted. The mom actually sees a grown man in her house who she thinks has taken her son. How traumatic! She and her husband endured absolute hell in limbo wondering, worrying about the safety of their kid for 6 to 8 WEEKS for the sake of setting up this kid-friendly fantasy. It was heartbreaking as a mom to watch this poor woman cry while listening to her son’s kidnapper sing “Memories” over the phone. They eventually get their happy ending as a family, but you know who doesn’t?
Susan. The woman who dumped her jerk boyfriend after falling head over heels in love with Tom Hanks’ character. In the end, she not only loses the love of her life but also has to come to terms with the fact that she’s fallen for a 12-year-old. How is she supposed to cope with this grief? Over margaritas with her girlfriends? I think not. She’s completely on her own. The whole movie is tragic really. And speaking of tragedies…
How To Train Your Dragon 2
In the first movie, we know that Hiccup was raised by his dad and we learn that his mom was taken away by dragons when he was an infant. He stumbles upon her alive and well, living peacefully amongst dragons. What should be a heartwarming reunion between a mother and son who learn they share the same compassion for dragons, was spoiled for me by the fact she seemingly CHOSE to stay gone for the last 20 years. I can’t fathom a mother who would choose hanging out with dragons over moving heaven and earth to watch her son grow up. Despite this overlooked flaw in her nature, Hiccup welcomes her back into his life without hesitation. Then, his dad who has raised, protected and accepted him, gets killed by Hiccup’s beloved dragon, Toothless. The fates of Hiccup, his dad, and Toothless are unfathomably unfair and sad, while mommy dearest seems to unjustifiably come out smelling like roses. This is heavy stuff for a kids’ movie. The first one was awesome, this one left me emotionally bereft.
Now that I’ve likely wrecked these family favorites for you as well, let’s hear what movies you can’t enjoy with the same freedom now that you’re a parent.
Love this!!!!