You’re sitting there, enjoying the popcorn, soft drink and occasional Milk Dud while watching the new children’s movie and all of a sudden, a comment or gesture has been made on screen that you and your spouse understand, but leave the children merely giggling because others are. You aren’t sure what to do. It’s funny, you want to laugh, but then you realize, are you condoning what you just saw?
Sometimes it can be lighthearted, such as the ‘Tupperware’ reference in the Aladdin movie in the beginning with the infomercial-type salesmen “Phhbbttt!!! Still gooooood!”
Other references, such as in the Pixar film “Cars”, with the ‘pinstriping tattoo’ on Sally, or the twins’ flashing their ‘headlights’ at Lightning McQueen. Or referring to The Human Torch in “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” as “smelling like ash” – are those necessary in children’s movies?
Sure, the companies are trying to keep the parents entertained during children’s movies, as the children are of course already entertained, but with sexualism everywhere already, does it really need to carry over into our children’s films as well?
I will continue to watch movies with my children, and anything I deem too inappropriate will suddenly develop a fatal scratch rendering it unplayable if we own it before seeing it, or will become something we just won’t buy if we’ve viewed it at the theatres first. I also plan to let movie companies know what I think if I feel it’s a tad inappropriate as well.
Join me in my crusade to spare our children’s childhoods from overly sexual content, will you?