My almost-three-year old little girl (and only girl after having two boys) had never been to a movie. Until last Sunday.
We braved the icy winds to see the much-talked-about Princess and the Frog at Richmond’s Bowtie Cinemas. I was surprised that my boys (seven and four) wanted to go, and even more surprised that my little gal, Caroline was able to sit on my lap most of the time.
What surprised me most, though, was how impressed I was with this film. Sure, the animation was great. Yes, the music was delightful and of course the popcorn was sinful and finger-licking-delicious.
The story, however, was impressive. And not just the kind of impressive I’d give to any children’s movie–it was impressive on so many levels:
1) Tiana, the main character, was an incredibly hard-worker. Throughout the movie, while her friends partied and frittered around, Tiana was uber-focused on her dream of owning a restaurant. Not sure about your kids, but mine needed a little dose of “hard work is how you get places in life” without me delivering the message. So, thanks, Disney.
2) Tiana was in no way obsessed with being a princess. Now, don’t get me wrong here. After three years of Tonka trucks and Thomas the Train I am thrilled to have a sweet little pretty-in-pink gal who loves to dress up as a princess. But it was good for her to see that not every girl HAS to or WANTS to be a princess. I liked Tiana for that.
3) No matter what, Tiana stuck to her guns. Whether it was not kissing that frog on first sight or pursuing her dream no matter what the costs, that girl had persistence like a kid with a dollar bill in a candy store. She was NOT about to leave without getting what she wanted. I REALLY liked Tiana for that.
4) Tiana wanted to make her parents proud of her. This was a consistent theme throughout the movie, from the beginning when she took her father’s passion for owning a restaurant on as her own, through the end where it was apparent that her mother was a prominent and special person in her life: Tiana showed utter respect for her parents. I loved Tiana for that.
finally, 5) The cast and characters, albeit a bit scary at times with some voodoo-like-scenes a la New Orleans where the animated film was set, were fun, and completely made you want to invite them into your home again and again. Which is why we’ll be first in line when the Princess and the Frog hits the stores. And, oh yeah, great job of making Tiana an African American. Long-time coming. Well-represented. Bravo. But her character, like everyone’s, is so much important than her color.
Bravo as well to Bowtie Cinemas for keeping such a beautiful theatre uber-clean, with a crew dashing in the door as soon as the credits began rolling.
Note: Disney, nor Bowtie Cinemas is paying for this review. However, if either of you are listening, I’ll work for movies. And popcorn. Lots and lots of popcorn.
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