There’s a difference between a family-friendly film and one made exclusively for children. The latter is akin to jangling keys, pretty images, and empty messages designed to be forgotten the moment they’re consumed. Once upon a time, Disney actually knew the difference: their oeuvre set the standard for a new breed of “four-quadrant” storytelling, parsing out tough themes with a heady mix of charm and movie magic. But that charm has long since faded, and the troubles seemed to begin once the company stopped innovating and instead looked back to its greatest hits.
More than 100 years since the House of Mouse opened its doors, immolation is now the order of the day, with Disney’s latest batch of live-action remakes printing nostalgia on demand. They’ve got plenty of heart, but no soul, and certainly no grasp on what made their predecessors such hits. Disney is more than its catchphrases and fluffy mascots; it should strive for more than empty remixes. But why traipse into new, dangerous territory when the bare minimum will do, and your cutest, fluffiest mascot — the one that surely drives millions in toy sales — is ripe for reappraisal?
