What’s the function of a film of this kind? Essentially it’s a primer on love and marriage directed at very young people; imprinting on their little psyches the idea that smooth talking delinquents, recently escaped from the local pound, are a good match for nice girls from sheltered homes. When in ten years, the icky human version of Tramp shows up around the house, their hormones will be racing, and no one will understand why. Films like this program woman to adore jerks.
Quick! Name a Disney film where the main character has two living parents at the end!
Update: Rankin-Bass is no better.
I agree completely - I think showing kids movies like "clockword orange" would give them a more balanced view of life.
Posted by: Anonymous | December 15, 2008 at 04:25 PM
Clockwork
Posted by: Anonymous | December 15, 2008 at 04:25 PM
I forget, were there parents in TRON?
Posted by: D. Eppstein | December 15, 2008 at 05:26 PM
I once came up with a whole list of these but I can only remember this one now.
The Little Mermaid - The best woman is one who doesn't talk.
Posted by: Matt | December 15, 2008 at 08:53 PM
How insidious ! Maybe these films should be branded as suitable only for a mature audience :)
The Incredibles (2004)
Posted by: | December 16, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Hrmph. That's not Disney; that's Pixar.
Posted by: JeffE | December 16, 2008 at 01:50 PM
The Parent Trap.
Posted by: Teresa | December 22, 2008 at 04:49 PM
Ooh, good one.
Posted by: JeffE | December 23, 2008 at 10:41 AM
It is kinda cheating, as I have to watch Disney more often than not these days...
Sleeping Beauty
Peter Pan (presuming Wendy counts)
101 Dalmations (the human parent-surrogates and the dogs)
Movies with invisible mothers (may or may not be alive, father
does live through movie):
Pocahontas
The Little Mermaid
Alladin (Jasmine's parents)
I don't know the live action ones all that well.
Posted by: | December 29, 2008 at 03:00 PM