You may be considering going to see Despicable Me, starring Steve Carrell. Before you go, please do some research. We learned this from an adoptive family who was caught off guard by the negative adoption themes in the movie. We suggest families be prepared and read some reviews before going to see Despicable Me. Read below to see what one mother had to say about the movie.
Review of Despicable Me:
I’ve never written a review of a movie before, but for what it’s worth, here goes:
Despicable Me sets out to be a feel good, good triumphs over evil, type of movie. But it goes about it in a very poor, unhealthy way.
An evil villain (Bad Guy 1) sets out to commit the biggest/worst/most notorious crime ever—stealing the moon. In order to put his plan into action, he must first steal a shrinking ray gun from another, arguably “better” (read: more evil) villain (Bad Guy 2) which he will use to shrink the moon to steal it out of the sky and take back to Earth. Security surrounding Bad Guy 2’s house is impenetrable until Bad Guy 1 sees three adorable orphans who live in a Home for Girls, selling cookies door to door. Bad Guy 2 lets them in and Bad Guy 1 comes up with an idea. Bad Guy 1 goes to the Home for Girls to adopt the 3 orphans. All they want is a loving family (duh).
Long story short, Bad Guy 1 uses the girls to get into Bad Guy 2’s home, steal the ray gun, and he’s “done” with them. They are returned to the Home for Girls, his use for them over. In the end (don’t read any further if you don’t want to hear the end of the story), Bad Guy 1 goes back to get the girls to keep because he loves them. And they all live happily ever after.
Adoption issues of which to be aware:
• Stereotypical dramatization of the orphanage director
• Adults using orphans for own means
• Attitude that orphans are disposable
• Adoption is not permanent
• Cavalier attitude towards adoption and families
This movie has very little redeemable value (other than the music, which is pretty good). It is not worth even using as a lesson—for anything.
Written By: Mom of three biological and two adopted children
For More Information about Adoption and the Media, visit http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/media/
