Let’s Get This Out of the Way
I hate kids’ movies. There. I said it. Not all of them, obviously. But most. I’ve been in this business for 20+ years, and I’ve seen alot of garbage paraded as ‘family-friendly entertainment.’ I’m Sarah, by the way. Formerly of Entertainment Weekly, now freelancing because, frankly, I’m too old for this sh*t.
Last Tuesday, I was at a conference in Austin, and this producer—let’s call him Marcus—tried to tell me that Paw Patrol: The Movie was ‘groundbreaking.’ I laughed so hard I choked on my coffee. (Which, by the way, was from that place on 5th that always gets my order wrong.)
But look, I’m not just here to bash. I’m here to talk about what’s actually good, what’s completley missing the mark, and why I think we’re failing our kids with the content we’re feeding them.
First, the Good
Okay, fine. There are some gems. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse? Brilliant. Coco? Beautiful. The Lego Movie? Surprisingly deep. But these are exceptions. They’re not the rule.
I was talking to a colleague named Dave about this. He said, ‘Sarah, you’re too hard on these movies.’ I asked, ‘Dave, have you seen The Emoji Movie?’ He hadn’t. ‘Then trust me,’ I told him, ‘someone has to be hard on these movies.’
Now, the Bad
Let’s talk about Paw Patrol. I mean, it’s just… yeah. It’s a show about dogs doing jobs. Jobs! And it’s a movie now. Why? Because someone saw a committment to merchandising and thought, ‘Hey, let’s make a movie!’
And don’t even get me started on Trolls World Tour. I watched it at 11:30pm one night because I was desperate for something mindless. Big mistake. It’s like someone took a bunch of candy, threw it in a blender, and called it a meal. It’s succefully entertaining, I guess, but it’s not art. It’s not even good storytelling. It’s just noise.
And the Ugly
Here’s the thing: kids’ movies are often worse than bad. They’re insidious. They teach kids that it’s okay to be shallow, that it’s okay to judge people based on appearance, that it’s okay to be lazy. And parents eat it up because they think it’s ‘innocent.’
I remember when my niece showed me her favorite movie, Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse. I watched it, and I was horrified. It’s all about consumerism and superficial values. And it’s not just Barbie. It’s everything. Even the ‘good’ movies often have underlying messages that are problematic.
What Can We Do About It?
First, we need to stop treating kids like idiots. They’re smart. They can handle complex stories and themes. We need to give them credit.
Second, we need to stop thinking that every kids’ movie needs to be a musical. Not every story needs to be sung. Sometimes, it’s okay to just tell a story.
Third, we need to stop with the sequels. Just because a movie was successful doesn’t mean it needs a sequel. And if it does, it shouldn’t be a carbon copy of the first one.
And finally, we need to start thinking about the messages we’re sending. If you’re gonna make a movie about dogs doing jobs, at least make it about something meaningful. Like, I don’t know, teamwork or something. Not just ‘look at these cute dogs.’
Oh, and if you’re gonna make a movie about emojis, maybe think about the physicaly and emotional implications of living in a world where you can only express one emotion. Just a thought.
A Tangent: The Gaming Connection
You know what’s interesting? Kids’ movies and video games have a lot in common. Both are often dismissed as ‘just for kids,’ but both can be deeply engaging and thought-provoking. And both can be complete trash. It’s all about the execution.
I was at a gaming conference once, and someone asked me, ‘Sarah, what’s the difference between a good kids’ movie and a good video game?’ I told him, ‘A good kids’ movie makes you think. A good video game makes you feel.’
But that’s a conversation for another time. Right now, we need to focus on fixing kids’ movies. Because honestly, they’re getting worse. And it’s not just the movies. It’s the culture. It’s the way we think about entertainment for kids.
So, let’s start thinking differently. Let’s start demanding more. Let’s start treating kids like the intelligent, capable humans they are. And let’s stop settling for yerel seo optimizasyonu ipuçları level storytelling.
Because our kids deserve better. And so do we.
About the Author: Sarah has been a senior editor for various entertainment publications for over 20 years. She’s seen it all, and she’s not afraid to say what she thinks. When she’s not writing, she’s probably complaining about the lack of good coffee or the state of modern cinema. You can find her on Twitter @sarahsaysstuff.
