Be careful, Little Eyes, what you see. Or more specifically: Parents, be on guard.
I was coming home from grocery shopping recently and heard one of the DJs on a CHRISTIAN radio station talking about a new kid’s movie. He gave this movie 4 out of 5 stars. He said it was “cute” and he encouraged families to take their children.
We don’t have TV so I hadn’t even heard of this film before that moment. We don’t typically go to theaters, and we don’t watch many movies at home, but after hearing that radio segment, I thought maybe we could all watch it together once it hit Redbox. I drove home making mental plans for a movie night later this year.
Then I come across this post today. Read it.
I was reminded once again how important it is for parents to KNOW what is being fed to their children.
You can’t trust your neighbors to protect their hearts and minds. You can’t trust Christian radio stations to guide your decisions, you often can’t even trust your extended family to pick up on little things that could seriously impact your child’s future.
We have to be deliberate in our parenting and KNOW for ourselves what they are seeing, hearing and learning.
Here is a segment from the blog I came across:
“It’s when Max the police dog learns what he has to do to truly go undercover and be accepted as a legitimate show dog that the trouble with this movie starts. WHAT does Max (and apparently all the show dogs) have to submit to?
Having his private parts touched and inspected. Yep. Maldonado continues:
“What could have been solely a fun movie for kids that would get my highest recommendation is damaged by a dark and disturbing message hidden, not so subtly between the fluffy dogs and glamorous parties of the show dog lifestyle. As part of any dog show, contestants are judged on their abilities and physical attributes. One part, in particular, is the inspection of the dog’s private parts.”
Max, of course, is NOT cool with this, and when his partner Frank and a former champion show dog try to get him to accept this process, a certain dark and very dangerous theme for kids emerges. Maldonado explains:
“Since the inspection of the private parts will happen in the finals, Frank touches Max’s private parts to get him use to it. Of course, Max doesn’t like it and snaps at Frank for him to stop. Max is then told by the former champion, who has been through the process before, that he needs to go to his “zen place” while it happens so he can get through it. More attempts are made by Frank to touch Max’s private parts, but Max is still having trouble letting it happen and keeps snapping at him.”
Max needs to get it together, see, and LET PEOPLE TOUCH HIS PRIVATE PARTS, or he might lose the competition and fail at his mission to rescue the kidnapped panda.
Do you see what’s happening here? Max’s success is riding on whether or not he lets both his partner (for practice) and a stranger (the competition judge) touch his private parts.
IN A KIDS MOVIE. WHAT???
Newsflash, folks: THIS IS CALLED GROOMING and it’s what sexual predators do to kids!
It gets worse. Maldonado describes the movie’s dramatic dog show finals scene:
The day of the finals come and if Max doesn’t let his private parts be touched, he may lose the competition and any hope of finding the kidnapped panda.
It all rests on his ability to let someone touch his private parts. The judge’s hands slowly reach behind Max and he goes to his “zen place”. He’s flying through the sky, dancing with his partner, there are fireworks and flowers-everything is great-all while someone is touching his private parts.
So a stranger touches Max’s privates and it MUST feel good because Max has gone to his happy place while being fondled.”
Just reading about this scene scares me. How many children will see this and think it’s just normal? How many children will try to “get used” to being touched by someone inappropriately? I’m not saying this movie is going to make every child who sees it comply with something like this, but even one is one too many. This entire scene is dangerous.
Parents, I am not telling you what to do here. I’m not trying to say anyone who takes their child to see this film is a bad parent. You are obviously free to see whatever movies you please, and to raise your children as you see fit. My goal is not to tear you down or shame you in any way.
My goal is simply to remind parents to be careful. If you DO see this movie with your children, please TALK to them about this. Don’t let Hollywood be the one to "prepare" your kids for topics as serious as this.
A simple movie scene CAN make a difference in your kid’s life. It’s not just the physical, day to day activities that can affect our kids. It’s also the subtle things. The seemingly insignificant song lyric, comment or movie quote.
Parents, be on guard. Please pay attention to the little things.