LOL. I’m not sure where this image is from, a friend emailed it to me.

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For those who haven’t seen the new Disney Princess movie, Tangled, allow me to state simply that you and your daughter will love it. There is not a bit of “girls as victims who must be saved by a man” messaging. The Princess is literally a healer and has tremendous power. There is a love story, but it’s fun. Now, take your daughters, and your sons, to see this epic Disney film and then come back and read the rest of the review because . . . SPOILER ALERT!

Let’s start with the premise of Tangled. Princess Rapunzel gets kidnapped at birth. Parents very, very sad. Quintessential Disney. Rapunzel’s hair doesn’t spin gold (as in the Grimm Brother’s Fairytale), it has the power to heal when she sings.

The traditional Evil Stepmother archetype, Mother Gothel, is different, more modern and realistic, than Disney’s last attempts. She’s a vain woman who kidnaps Rapunzel so that she can hold her hair while Rapunzel sings. This keeps her young, beautiful and healthy. Mother Gothel keeps Rapunzel locked in a tower, both to keep her healing powers all to herself and so that she never risks losing her Fountain of Youth.

Mother Gothel is more subtle than other Evil Stepmothers. The character is an editorial comment about the modern fixation with youth, beauty and plastic surgery. Mother Gothel keeps Rapunzel where she wants her with snide criticisms, masked as jokes, to lower her self-worth. She also instills fear in Rapunzel of all the horrible things that can happen to a vulnerable young girl in the outside world. She reminded me of a typical Mean Girl or some Emotional Vampires I’ve known in the past. You know, the type of friend who’s compliments are backhanded, followed with a laugh and “just kidding.”

Rapunzel, look in that mirror. You know what I see? I see a strong, confident, beautiful young lady. [Rapunzel smiles] Oh look, you’re here too, laughs Mother Gothel.

Mother Gothel is the type of friend or relative who is deeply negative and feeds off other’s positivity and energy. Like the Dementors in the Harry Potter Series. The Fear-Instilling part reminded me of Cable News, (don’t live, it’s dangerous out there). What I enjoyed about Mother Gothel is that she’s symbolic of real dangers, which gives us good talking points with our daughters about what kinds of people and behaviors to avoid.

I approved of lots of choices about Rapunzel’s character, the healing powers, her ability to knock an intruder out with a frying pan, her realistic internal conflict about defying her mother, but my favorite was her Internal Compass. Locked in a tower, you have a lot of quiet time to think and listen to that inner voice, the one everyone has, which tells you who you are and what path to follow. She listened to hers and it said, “Those lights are about you. Go there.” Though Mother Gothel brushed it off, dissuaded and forbid her from going, she had to follow her path. This is, in my view, the most central thing we can teach our daughters. This voice is in you, it can be trusted, it’s best to follow it, it will keep you safe, it will lead you in the right direction, it’s yours, it’s only for you, no one else can hear it, it is meant only for you, it’s a gift from God.

I loved how they used the metaphor of Light for both her path and her magical powers. It’s the same metaphor in the Bible and most other spiritual traditions.

The Prince Archetype was . . . wait, there is no Prince. She’s the Princess. He’s no great prince either. He’s a Bad Boy Archetype. Very cute, prone to stealing, a total phony. She doesn’t immediately fall for him. She knocks him out with a frying pan and holds him captive until he agrees to help her escape from the tower to follow her dream. She doesn’t marry him right away either. At the end, when she is reunited with her parents, she allows him to court her for several years.
Then. . . they live happily ever after.

The saving. Yes, in this Disney film, there is some saving. . .but that’s all I’m saying. I literally {{{gasped}}} out loud at the turn of events and I don’t want to ruin it for anyone.

Tangled is, in my opinion, Disney’s best Princess Movie. The Princess is a Girl Heroine.

Thanks Disney. I’ve been waiting a long time for that pleasure.

All Images Copyright of The Walt Disney Company.

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I’m torn between wanting to write a full critique of The Princess and The Frog, the way I have for the other films in the Disney Princess Culture. You know, deconstruct the whole thing and look for meaning, obvious and subtle, relate it to the Feminist Promise of Past and today’s Working Mother Reality. I want to at-once say this film was accurate in terms of teaching our daughters to dream and warn poor Tiana that dreams get exhausting and perhaps less fulfilling or important when you throw a baby  or two into the mix.

And seriously, Tiana do. not. marry. a. man. who. does. not. see. the. value. of. an. honest. day’s. work. A spoiled, poor prince playboy? Oh, my goodness. One could an entire doctoral thesis on today’s Hip Hop Pimp culture, current African American demographics and family crisis and the gender/work theme in this film.

But, unlike the rest of the Disney Princess Genre this movie just came out.

I don’t want to ruin it for you or your children. Really, I don’t.

Instead, I’ll say “hurray” for Disney. They finally have an African American Princess in Tiana.

The plot was fun. The story was creative. The themes and romance was appropriate for children. The cast was darling. It was super-colorful and interesting and fun. The film even poked some fun at its own genre with one character insanely obsessed with marrying a prince at any cost. Its setting is in New Orleans, a town with a rich and colorful heritage that could surely use the boost.

Both my son and daughter enjoyed this film equally, and frankly, so did I.

Take your kids to the movies during Christmas break. They don’t make a new Disney Princess movie everyday. As much fun as it is to deconstruct them an, it’s equally fun to go see them and experience them with your kids. Disney Princess films are, after all, an integral narrative to our love stories, for better or worse.

Belle, Battered Codependent

Cinderella Should Have Saved Herself

Ariel, The Little Mute

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My daughter, like every five-year-old girl loves the Disney Princesses. I mean, we can’t really walk through any store without seeing clothing, dolls, books, backpacks, flash cards, puzzles, games, dress up clothes, videos, bed spreads or shoes that aren’t logoed with these girls.

Since banning the princess paraphernalia we like to play a little game. She tries to think up a princess who was an empowered girl and I explain to her why that princess is not an acceptable role model.

What’s wrong with Ariel, The Little Mermaid? Ainsley asks.

First, Ariel made a deal with the devil, Ursula is pretty much the evil devil character in the story. You must never assume the devil will look a certain way. You should never believe anyone who tells you they can give you something you desire if you give up your talents. Because most likely they are lying.

Second, Ariel had the gift of a beautiful voice. That’s a talent given to her by God. When God gives you a gift or a talent you don’t ever trade that for some guy. I don’t care who the guy is, if he loves you, there will be room for your gifts and talents to flourish.

Third, Ariel fell for the first man she saw. Smart girls date and have a few boyfriends before they settle down and get married. See, it takes practice and trying different boyfriends out before you really know what kind of man will be best for you. Never marry the first man you see.

Fourth, Ariel gave up her family for the prince. True love will never require that you abandon your parents or siblings or friends or life. If a man wants you to give up family or friends to be with him, then he doesn’t really love you.

Fifth, Ariel gave up her voice. No man worthy of your love will want you to give up your voice. You have important things to say, valid and worthy things. Any man you marry should encourage you to say what you think and voice your opinions. Don’t ever, ever let a man silence you.

Give a girl you know an alternative to Disney’s version of girl. Try something likeThe practical princess, and other liberating fairy tales or missing piece meets big o where the messages are you can save yourself and you’re already whole and complete.

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I found a great resource on Packaging Girlhood, inspired by a letter from Linda Holmes (It’s good, go read it).

We so loved Linda Holmes’ letter to Pixar, we decided to support her with a petition. Here it is:

Dear Dr. Catmull and Mr. Iger,

We read Linda Holmes’s wonderful letter to Pixar (link below) asking you to create a feature film with a girl or women as the main character. We’ve had enough of Disney princesses with doe eyes and Barbie doll bodies. We love your inventive, brilliant movies. We know you have it in you. We loved feisty Princess Atta in A Bug’s Life and Shrek’s Princess Fiona was our kind of girl, but the stories weren’t theirs to tell, nor the journeys theirs to take. We want a female LEAD character, a nonprincess LEAD character who is complex and interesting. While you’re at it, could you give her a passion for something other than fashion and shopping, and how about a realistic body type? Girls are 25% of characters in animated films and 52% of the population. Research tells us boys care less about gender than interesting characters. They’ll watch if she’s cool enough. Come on, give us just one. If you make it, we will come to the theaters in droves. Promise!

Sincerely,

Your concerned customers

Linda Holmes letter

Click Here to Sign the petition

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