Disney and Family Values/ Meet the Robinsons (2007)

I have been thinking about family value recently and the issues that surround these values. I looked to see who was talking about foster car, adoption and disabilities. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the church or Christian media, it was Disney.Meet the RobinsonsMandy and I rented the movie Meet the Robinsons the other evening. We loved it. It is refreshing to see a movie that is uplifting and fun that also touches on a theme that is important to us. Louis Robinson is an orphan living in an orphanage. While the movie spends most of the time with time travel and eluding a villain, the fact that Louis is an orphan is prominent throughout the film. The movie shows some of the frustrations of trying to be adopted along with some of the hopes and dreams of children waiting for their forever families. What is family? How does one define family? Are all presented in this film and make it a worthwhile piece of entertainment. This is not the first time that Disney (or an affiliate) has taken on a subject of great moral importance. Unfortunately, Christian filmmakers have long avoided or overly romanticized subjects such as adoption or foster care allowing Disney and others to do the work they should have done.Take for instance Lilo and Stitch (2002) that portrayed a heroine involved with the foster system that didn’t fit the classic princess mold. Both of these movies, along with others, serve as reminders of how Christian media misses opportunities time and again to make meaningful films that introduce ideas and values to a receptive audience without being stereotypical, overly dramatic or romantic.Disney ChannelRecently, I have grown very frustrated with the local Christian radio station near my home. The evening are hosted by John Tesh who is more likely to quote Oprah or Dr. Phil than make a reference to God or even the Church. The station producers feel that “family friendly” is the same a Christian, but that is a poor assumption. You might also assume that the call letters of KFSH (The Fish) indicate the station is Christian, but no one really knows what that means in music industry terms. The commercials tend to gravitate towards cosmetic surgery or financial growth, which we all know is the true meaning of Christian (he says with a wink and a nudge). Any time a song comes along country radio that appears “family friendly” it instantly gets played on “the Fish,” regardless of whether that artist has a song about shacking up, getting drunk or some other “family un-friendly” behavior on his or her album, as well. I don’t get it and I don’t understand the rationale behind the “family friendly” equation.Contrast this with a commercial I heard on radio Disney the other day. It was targeted at children during the Christmas season asking them to treat other children with disabilities or special needs well. It told children to include other children and to be nice to everyone. It said that some children learn differently and need help to fell included. I had never heard a commercial like that before. When I heard it I did a double check to make sure of the station. This is something that should have appeared on a Christian station, but I know it never will. It is unfortunate that I have to rely on Disney to promote real family values when the church and Christian media will not.