I�M NOT THE RIGHT AUDIENCE

Please don�t use this as a reason, either. Not that you would, but you might feel like �Oh, it�s not my kind of story, you know�like I don�t get the whole Media and her family, and I�m not a bigot or anything, it�s just not my kind of film.� Wrong again, Beck�s bad boy. Wake up � a vote for Tiana is not a vote for socialism. Granted, Disney has put FAR too much emphasis on their first African American princess. They tried too hard, and it�s hurting them. They want it to matter, and it�s a long time coming, but like so much else in creating real equality, the truth is that it shouldn�t be a big deal, it should be just a small part of a bigger picture, and this bigger picture is about courage, balance, dreams, hard work, compassion, friendship and the value of people over money. Good stuff for any of us to hear, no matter how young or old. (By the way, if you really want to see ground-breaking, just hang on for Charlotte, a character so out-of-the-box that she models what matters as well or better than the film�s heroine, in simple ways that are guaranteed to resonate.) No, black is not what this film is about. Besides, would you stay away if it were their first�oh, �Alien� princess? Get over it. Go see it!

I�VE SEEN IT ALREADY

Good. Did you like it? Yes? Then go again. Because it�s even better the second time, and always better in a theatre, and you, especially you, have an obligation to fan the fan-flames of confidence in this kind of picture. Go see it�again!

IT WILL BE OUT ON DVD SOON�I�LL WAIT

DVD�s are for �seeing again�, movies are meant to be seen in theatres. Don�t wait for the DVD to see it the first time, and don�t wait until the kids are back in school, and don�t wait until we get another news story about how Disney has abandoned hand-drawn animation and written-off yet another magnificent animated film as �a box-office flop.� Go see it this weekend. An average of six show-times a day for the next four days gives you twenty-four good choices for spending less than ten dollars to spend less than two hours enjoying something that may not be seen again, unless you tell Hollywood that you want more of it, and that you want it more than rodents that bathe in dishwashers and lust after over-sexed female rodents who look like Britney�the bad Britney (there�s a model we want first-graders to mimic!)

WHY DOES THIS MATTER TO YOU SO MUCH?

Because of three things � tradition, faith in audiences, and belief in something better. First of all, I�m old and lucky enough to have known Walt, Roy O. and Roy E., and I believe in the essential goodness that still lingers in the Disney name. (Full disclosure � I own exactly two shares of Disney stock.) It isn�t a perfect company, and it isn�t always true to its roots, but this time it is, and I think there�s a lot of good in that. It�s good entertainment, the kind that makes you feel good, hopeful, and reminds you of things that mattered to you as a child. I say that as a writer and producer who loves animation, but also found There Will Be Blood to be the most engaging and satisfying film in decades. Second, this is a personal passion � animation. But I don�t think I�m alone in that. I think film snobs and non-snobs alike think that animation is a great thing. It has a valued place in the American film canon. It also has a less lofty and equally valuable place in our culture. It isn�t childish to be hopeful, or to dream, or to believe in something better. Nor is it wrong to want something more substantial and grittier. You need balance. This is a vote for going back to the well to replenish something magical. It�s not a Pollyanna plea, but a challenge to look at animation with fresh eyes. And when I say animation, I mean magical and smart and funny and moving animation, not animation that is simply clever for the sake of being clever and funny at the expense of anyone and everyone else. It is childish to want to constantly wallow in snarky humor and surrender at the first sign of some of reality�s harsher challenges. That�s fine in doses, but not as a steady diet. It�s a very grown-up thing to go back to the well and renew the spirit, and an even more grown-up thing to care enough about children to give them hope, to feed their dreams and fantasies, and to nurture something better in them than may be in us as adults, and voting with your wallet at the box-office is a big part of how you ensure that popular culture does the grown-up thing. I promise you that Princess and the Frog renews and gives hope, entertains and enriches, tickles and moves the movie-lover in you better than any other film in theatres right now. Finally, it matters to me because I think audiences are smart, and discerning, and mindful. I think audiences deserve to see good film, and I know that Hollywood follows a course lead by audiences, not the other way around. I know that this is the kind of film everyone is always asking �why can�t we see more of?�, so the answer is to go see it, and by seeing it say �More, please.�

WHY GO THIS WEEKEND?

The bloom is almost off the rose. We have to do something NOW if we�re going to tell Hollywood in general (and Disney in specific) that we want more of this kind of film. If we don�t, then the simple fact is that when we miss it, we�ll only have ourselves to blame for it not being available. Go on, put on the green and purple, grab a friend, pack the kids and their friends in the Prius and go see Princess and the Frog this New Year�s weekend. YOU have the power to make a difference � Hop to it!

-- Posted December 31, 2009