Lots to chat about today.
First off, the movie Smurfs 2. My children have been anticipating this movie opening for months. I was all set to take them to see it when I saw the following message from FARE.
PLEASE BE ADVISED: Reviews of the movie “The Smurfs 2,” as well as personal accounts from members of our community, indicate there is a scene in the film that makes light of a child having a severe allergic reaction to peanuts and requiring emergency epinephrine. We want to make you aware that viewing this scene could be upsetting to children. We have reached out to Sony Pictures to express our alarm and disappointment with this material being included in a film being marketed to children.
What??????? Oh you have to be kidding! This really made me angry! How dare they make light of food allergies. As I have said before when something like this happens, would they make fun of cancer, diabetes,heart disease? No, they wouldn't and even if they did there would be an uproar!
A friend of mine took her kids to the movies to see it (they do not have food allergies), this is what she had to say....
We actually saw this today and that scene made me mad! General description: The dad makes a joke about his son's birthday cake being gluten free, egg free, etc. and that it's never even seen a peanut. Then, Granddad comes in with corn dogs for the kids and a parent asks if it has peanuts in it. Granddad says no, a kid at the party takes a bite, Granddad says but it's cooked in peanut oil, parents freak out, say get the epipen, call 911 (this is all played for laughs, by the way). Then the next scene shows the dad talking to the kid's parents on the phone saying he's thankful that the boy's throat is no longer closed. Granddad basically says to the dad that they're all overreacting. And the scene ends on the note of "oh, those silly overprotective parents, these days." Really, really disliked the whole scene. All I could think of was the family of that poor girl in California.
So, what do I do? Do I take the kids? I would have to let them know about the scene beforehand so as to avoid drama in the movie theater. I know that my kids would not find this funny at all. My first instinct is to avoid the movie all together. I'm also thinking of writing Sony pictures. I would like to let them know that this is not funny. Thoughts? What would you do?
Onto other news....
This makes me sad. I do not know what it will take to get parents of nonallergic parents to understand. Thank you to those that do get it.
http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/07/nut-free_elementary_school_dec.html
My son has a tree nut allergy. We saw the movie and enjoyed it. As I said to a friend, the Grandfather is portrayed as an insensitive oaf, especially in regards to the allergy issues. When you watch it, you understand that. In fact, I think it brings more awareness to the issue. Parents of children without allergies may not ever truly understand, but at least they are being exposed by scenes like these. I wouldn't change a thing.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your honest review. It's appreciated.
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