I’ve Had It Up to Here with These ‘Family Films’
Look, I love movies. I really do. I’ve spent the last 20 years of my life writing about them, watching them, obsessing over them. But kids’ movies? Honestly, I’m kinda over them. Not all of them, of course. But so many of these so-called ‘family films’ are just… ugh. Let me tell you why.
It started about three months ago. I was at a conference in Austin, sitting through a panel about the state of kids’ entertainment. Some producer named—let’s call him Marcus—was going on about how ‘innovative’ and ‘groundbreaking’ these new animated features are. I mean, really? Groundbreaking? I asked him, ‘Have you actually seen what you’re putting out there?’ And he just smiled and said, ‘Kids love it, so what’s the problem?’ Which… yeah. Fair enough. But that’s not the point.
You know what I think? I think we’ve lost sight of what makes a good kids’ movie. It’s not just about bright colors and catchy songs. It’s about heart. It’s about stories that resonate, that teach something, that make kids—hell, even adults—feel something real. And too many of these movies are just… empty. They’re hollow. They’re a committment to nothing but the almighty dollar.
Let’s Talk About the Music
And don’t even get me started on the music. I swear, every other kids’ movie these days has some pop star or another shilling their latest single. It’s not about the story anymore; it’s about the aquisition. It’s about slapping a famous name on the poster and calling it a day. I remember talking to a colleague named Dave over coffee at the place on 5th about this exact thing. He said, ‘It’s completley out of hand.’ And he’s right. It is.
I’m not saying all kids’ movies are bad. Far from it. There are gems out there. But they’re buried under a mountain of mediocrity. And it’s frustrating. It’s frustrating because I know what these movies could be. I know the potential they have. But instead, we get the same old, same old. We get sequels and spin-offs and reboots. We get safe. We get boring.
A Quick Tangent: Why Can’t We Have Nice Things?
Speaking of boring, let’s talk about the news. I was reading a crime news report today the other day, and it got me thinking. Why is it that we can have such compelling, gripping stories in the news, but when it comes to kids’ movies, we’re stuck with the same old formula? It’s like no one’s willing to take a risk. No one’s willing to try something new. It’s like they’re scared of determing what works and what doesn’t. Well, guess what? Sometimes you have to fail in order to succeed.
I remember back in 1998, when I first started out, there was this movie—’The Iron Giant.’ You ever seen it? Of course you haven’t, because it flopped at the box office. But it’s one of the most powerful, moving stories I’ve ever seen. It’s about a boy and a giant robot, but it’s really about love and fear and what it means to be human. It’s the kind of movie that stays with you. It’s the kind of movie that changes you. And it’s the kind of movie we need more of.
But Here’s the Thing…
Look, I’m not saying we should all become film critics. I’m not saying we should all start writing scathing reviews of the latest Pixar offering. What I’m saying is that we should care. We should care about the stories we’re telling our kids. We should care about the messages we’re sending. We should care about the physicaly and emotional impact these movies have. Because they do have an impact. They shape our kids’ worldviews. They shape their understanding of right and wrong. They shape their understanding of what it means to be a good person.
And if we’re not careful, we’re going to end up with a generation of kids who think it’s okay to just go through the motions. Who think it’s okay to be safe. Who think it’s okay to be boring. And that’s a scary thought. That’s a thought that keeps me up at night. That’s a thought that makes me want to scream into the void.
So, what’s the solution? I’m not sure. I wish I had an answer. But I know this: we have to start caring. We have to start demanding more. We have to start holding these studios accountable. Because our kids deserve better. They deserve stories that resonate. They deserve stories that teach. They deserve stories that make them feel.
And honestly, so do we. So do we.
About the Author: Hi, I’m Sarah. I’ve been a senior magazine editor for over 20 years, and I’ve seen it all. Well, maybe not all, but alot. I’m passionate about movies, music, and all things entertainment. I’m also a mom, which means I’ve seen more kids’ movies than I care to admit. Follow me on Twitter @SarahMovieGal.
