Disney’s “Meet the Robinsons”: good or bad for adoptive families?
David on Apr 11th 2007
There is a controversial message circulating among adoption listservs that was first brought to our attention by our friend Peggy Knudson. It is regarding the new Disney movie, “Meet the Robinsons,” and it raises some very interesting concerns specifically pertaining to adoptive parents. The warning is getting some mixed reactions among parents - some feel the criticism is valid, while others are grateful that the movie brought up the topic of adoption in their home so that they could talk about it.
So, draw your own conclusions. Here’s the letter, unedited:
Dear all:
I am writing to warn all parents/guardians who were planning to take their kids to see the new Disney movie “Meet the Robinsons” to consider NOT going.
The advertising for this animated feature makes it sound like a great movie for any young child. Unfortunately, the movie paints a picture of adoption that is false and absolutely degrading–if not horrific–for any adopted child, and will give false impressions about adoption to any child, adopted or not.
The basic story is about an adorable baby whose birth mother leaves him on the doorstep of an orphanage.
Portrayed as loving, sweet, extremely smart and very appealing, he spends the next 12 years of his life wanting a family and being turned down by one family after another. In all, 114 couples refuse to adopt him after interviewing him as a prospective son. He’s not good enough for them, not the right fit. He fails interview after interview.
This is NOT how adoption takes place; it’s a total fabrication.
One scene shows a prospective dad losing interest in adoption because this very smart little boy is more interested in science than sports. The prospective parents leave the disappointed child in a huff when he accidentally splatters them with peanut butter and jelly from his science project; the prospective dad has a serious physical reaction because he is allergic to peanuts; the well-meaning orphan has almost killed his prospective dad.
This is supposed to be funny.
Again, this has nothing to do with how adoptions really take place. I sat in that movie theater horrified, with my young adopted children at my side, wondering how I was going to explain these lies to them.
Since no one else wants the little boy, the child invents a time machine in order to go back in time to find his birth mother. The “bad guy” in his time travel journey turns out to be his best buddy from childhood, once his orphanage roommate. Now an emotional wreck resulting from being left behind when the orphanage was closed, the once-cute orphan is now mean and devious.
“Meet the Robinsons” is tasteless and totally insensitive regarding adoption issues. Please think very carefully before taking your child to see it, whether adopted or not. Disney has taken the issue of adoption and handled it crassly, incorrectly, and flippantly. These are issues that are extremely important and not funny for millions of adoptees and their families in this country and around the world.
Feel free to share this message with anyone who you feel might benefit from knowing about this warning.
Notably, as hard as we tried, we were unable to find the author. The letter has been circulated from listserv to listserv. What do you think? Have you seen the movie - and do you think this open letter is a fitting assessment? Leave us a comment and share your thoughts.
Filed in general |
This review from an adoption blog seemed to think it was a generally positive ‘adoption’ view: http://transracial.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/movie-review-meet-the-robinsons
I’m kind of torn. Haven’t seen the movie yet.
I have also seen the letter on my list-serves. In fact, like it or not, there are summer hosting programs and adoption parties, where parents can meet kids and decide who they like - all going on right here in the good ole USA.
As to how I will explain it to my children: They are 4 and 5 and have always known they were adopted and the stories surrounding their adoption. They know their birth names (foreign) as well as their American names.
They also know that cartoon are not real - I don’t need to explain that Jimmy Neutron is not real or that talking animals in Disney movies are not real.
Parents should take their children, after all their friends will be seeing the movie. Use the movie to have an age appropriate dialogue with your children, teachers and parents about the movies.
Use it as an opportunity. I would be concerned that a parent who needs to protects their children from less than glamourized approach may have issues themselves with adoption and family dialogues.
We’ll see the movie!
Nancy, that’s good advice and you make a valid point. Hopefully the open letter will at least give parents a heads up that the Movie will paint a picture of adoption that is less than glamorized.
Maybe we should also not see “Stuart Little”, after all the children might think that their parents can actually adopt a “mouse” and have it as a little brother. Come on, I feel very confident that “Disney” would never do anything to harm there viewers. I think that some people get on a soapbox about every topic under the sun. If the child was in a wheelchair, well someone from a Handicap group would be saying something was wrong with that too. Teach your children and trust that they will know whats what, and by all means talk to them if they should ask you any questions about the movie.
I really disagree with the author’s viewpoint, and I’m not sure if he/she even saw the movie because the main character NEVER built a time machine. He built a machine to recover memories because he wanted to be able to see his mother from his memories as an infant. The fact that this was misrepresented makes me question how well he/she was listening during the movie. There is a time machine, but that element comes from the future to save the main character. I thought it was one of the most uplifting films I’ve seen in a long time.
***Spoiler warning*****
If you’re planning on seeing the film, I want to let you know that my next comments will give away MAJOR plot lines.
I’m really shocked that your agency sent out this letter. I think the plot would be beneficial to kids who’ve been in foster care for a while. Yes, 114 couples refused to adopt him. However, since he kept his positive outlook, he was eventually united with his perfect family who could understand and support his genius. The other families were looking for other types of kids - sporty, quiet, etc. He met two “science nerds” who turned out to be absolutely incredible people who saw the greatness in him, and he had an incredible life. If anything, I’d think it would be an encouragment to the older foster kids that even though they’ve hit the “dreaded teen years” in foster care that he still found his family.
Also, when the main character is able to go back in the past to meet his birth mother, he decides against it when given the chance. He knows he has a real family, and that’s what’s important. So, even though his invention began as a way to see his mother, he chose against it because it isn’t important to him anymore.
There weren’t any monsters attacking the child as he was searching for his birth mother. There was a hat with a mind of its own, but it was on the “Pinky and the Brain” type quest of wanting to rule the world.
This sounds like it was written by the type of person who will blame society when her children do anything wrong, rather than looking at her own parenting.
I understand wanting to protect your children, but what a great opportunity to teach them the truth. If your children are adopted, sit down with them and explain how they came to be a part of your family. I have a 6 year old and I just don’t understand the idea of over-sheltering her. Do we really want our kids to watch something that is supposed to be entertaining and believe that’s how things really work, especially if it’s a cartoon? Of course not! That’s where we come in as parents. If more parents talked to their children openly and honestly, they would be much better off.
I agree with Robin…I rented this movie and absolutly fell in love with it…the characters are cute and smart and Lewis invented a memory scanner NOT a time machine. At first anyway.
Had no idea about the adoption theme of Meet the Robinsons before renting. We have 2 adopted and 2 bio children and we (parents) were thoroughly disgusted by the portrayal of adoption in this film. Let’s see…a child must sell himself to innumerable couples to prove his worth to become part of their family. How ’bout we focus on ‘every child deserves a home and loving parents’ for an approach to adoption? This hack job has a sort-of 1920’s nostalgia for orphanages, and whomever at Disney was responsible for this story should be canned.