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My husband and I thought the Pixar's new movie “UP” was great. It was sweet, funny on many levels for both kids and adults, and had drama. The only flaw was our 6-year-old son Cash was nearly traumatized by it. And from the number of crying kids we heard in the theater, I don’t think he was alone.
I had heard from a friend that early in the movie there was a Bambi moment, when the main character’s wife dies. I warned my husband just as it was coming and he distracted our son with some candy. First crisis averted. But when a whirling storm threw the house around and it looked like the end for Carl and Russell, Cash covered his face and whimpered. Then came a big bird who turned out to be friendly but only after it was touch and go for a few minutes. When growling dogs who could talk turned up on the scene, Cash had had enough and began repeating, “I want to go home.” Even the humor in the malfunction of the scary dog’s talking collar that made his voice squeaky and high-pitched was lost on him. The 3D just made it worse.
Scene after scene, we kept saying that it would get better but it didn’t. I was actually surprised how dark the movie was. I took him out into the lobby and we returned when we heard people laughing only to be scared out into the lobby again repeatedly. Of course the movie ended happily but it didn’t matter to Cash. He was traumatized and left saying that he hated the movie.
It was disappointing to have another movie for kids that seemed from the sunny advertisements on buses and billboards that it would be great for a kindergartener. But it wasn’t. It seems geared more toward older kids, tweeners maybe. You’ve been warned.
Bummer, I was looking forward to taking my 4 year old son... I guess I'll just have to bring my older boys (13 & 10). Thanks for the heads-up.
Posted by: Dad21 | 06/09/2009 at 09:47 AM
I'm wondering if years of scary Disney movies will have served as proper training for this Pixar delight. Screw the kids. I still want to go.
Posted by: Lisa | 06/09/2009 at 10:43 AM
Movies like Up will scare some children more than others. It's not always something you can predict; why do modern parents seem so angry when they're unable to control every single emotional moment their child has?
Posted by: repeatfather | 06/09/2009 at 11:31 AM
Here's how to control those moments: Don't take your kids to violent movies! Go play in a park! Go read a book!
Why do we need to raise a generation on mass media, lightning fast images, and slapstick violence? Throttle back on the rush to adolescence.
Posted by: sanfrandan | 06/09/2009 at 02:20 PM