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Carey Bryson
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By Carey Bryson, About.com Guide to Kids' Movies & TV

Heavy Topics in Family Movies

Sunday December 28, 2008
Have you ever noticed how many family movies contain some pretty emotional sub-topics? I remember when Meet the Robinsons came out in theaters; Carrie, our About.com guide to adoption, expressed her frustration at Disney for not warning parents about these weighty themes beforehand (Meet the Robinsons has a major sub-plot surrounding main character Luis, who was left at an orphanage as a baby).

In The Spiderwick Chronicles, we find that the kids' dad had left their mother for another woman. The sad sub-plot is a major part of the story, and some scenes contain heart-wrenching emotion as we see one of the boys struggle with the pain of their family's situation. Bedtime Stories, now playing in theaters, contains a similar theme, as the kids in this movie have also been abandoned by their father, and their mother has been left to pick up the pieces alone.

These sad storylines are present in so many movies, and I just have to wonder how many parents have been caught unaware by an unexpected element in a movie that may have ended up being difficult or emotional for their kids. I have often wondered what my own kids think when they see the children in these movies and the family hardships they endure. So far, my kids have never asked about any of the family problems portrayed in movies they have seen. I don't know if they catch the full meaning of what's happening, or maybe they get caught up in the overall story and they don't think much about the other details. Have any of you had to address these topics with your children? Have you been surprised by a heavy theme in a movie and how it affected your kids?

Comments
January 2, 2009 at 4:29 pm
(1) maisey says:

You know this is an important point. I’ve always been bothered by Disney’s use of parents dying as a sub plot. I cried when I saw Lion King and the dad was killed. While my kids love the characters in many of the movies, things like Bambi’s mom getting shot are harsh at a very young age.

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