The Mouse and the Model

Paper by Rachel Donovan.

What constitutes a family film? What is acceptable in a movie to be viewed and enjoyed by a family? Many “family” films may not even seem like films to watch with children because of the context of some films. The definition of a family film is a film genre that contains children or relates to them in the context of home and family. One of the main distributors of family films is the Walt Disney Company, which often refer to the films as “Disney models”. A “Disney model” can be defined as a business model where there is an involvement of an international family audience with a range of child friendly entertainment that are tightly integrated with each other, therefore boosting sales. With one of the most important shifts being the “Disney model” in the film industry in the 1970s and onto the 1990s, there are many non-Disney films that took on the idea of a family film as well.
There are two films that contain the idea of the “Disney model” that will be focused on: “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (1971), and the film “Cheaper by the Dozen” (2003). Both of the mentioned films contain the model without being apart of the Disney family. In the Warner Brother’s released film, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” contains almost an entire main cast of children with the story line focusing on their lives and follows them around a chocolate factory that they have the opportunity to visit. In 2003, Twentieth Century Fox released “Cheaper by the Dozen” follows a family with twelve kids and follows them through their journey of moving to a new place and fitting in.

These two films have the idea of being a family friendly film and go along the lines of the “Disney model” despite having a different distribution company. “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” is considered a family film because of its plot and characters. One of the main characters of the film, and the majority of the others are all children from different backgrounds. One is greedy, one is spoiled, one is kind, and so on. In comparison to “Mary Poppins” which is a Disney film and a great example of a “Disney model” film, the two movies focus on children and their personalities and how to improve them. Willy Wonka invites children into his chocolate factory and sends them through experiences that they will never forget in hopes to better their terrible personalities. While Mary Poppins becomes a nanny to two children who are in desperate need of a good parental figure seeing as both of their parents are away often leaving them to fool around and get into trouble. They are both seen as family friendly movies mainly because of the children being the center of the focus in the two films and the idea of a resolved conflict between the child and their unacceptable personalities with the end turning out to be happier than the beginning.

Throughout the film, there are aspects of the children’s past and their family, along with the flashback of the main character who is an adult. It provides humor and relatable moments to potential viewers. With the introduction to the main characters, it provides the viewer with a look into their personality and gives them an idea as to how they will act when they enter the chocolate factory.

In the film, “Cheaper by the Dozen”, the entire film from the beginning until the end is family oriented especially considering it is about a family with twelve children. Once again not being apart of the Disney productions, this film is able to be PG appropriate to its viewers and contain a family message that is shown at the end. In comparison to a Disney film, “Cheaper by the Dozen” is somewhat similar to “The Little Mermaid”. In the Disney movie, the main character is one of 7 children who inevitably goes against her father’s desires and proceeds to do whatever it is that she wants. In “Cheaper by the Dozen”, one of the children that feels neglected by the parents runs away in hopes of changing his families opinion on him and where they moved to. Though many differences between the two films, the two very much relate in the idea of a big family bond and a tragedy that brings them together in the end. Both films include children as the main idea of both films and something that goes wrong to inevitably bring them together in the end.

With children as the main focus of this film, it is easily seen as a family friendly movie, and could even be placed into the “Disney model” considering some of the events that occur. The idea at the end contains the joy of finally having a family that gets along and loves each other as opposed to the majority of the film, which consisted of constant arguing and disagreements with each other. The focus of the “Disney model” theme also includes the parents being somewhat involved and having a change of heart and become more understanding in the end, which is exactly what, happens in the case of “Cheaper by the Dozen”. Even in the sequel the family comes together in the end for a happy ending and therefore leaving the viewer satisfied with the idea of a happy family that lives happily ever after.

What constitutes a family film, is the idea of children in the film, but also relates to the idea of an everyday home or family. The majority of Disney films (especially those released from the 1970s and into the early 2000s), center or have something to do with the idea of family. With some films Disney films, such as “Freaky Friday” or even “Enchanted”, there are still some jokes that only older children or adults would understand as they would be somewhat inappropriate to the younger demographic. There are many family films now that are even rated PG-13, but still considered a family movie. Even the Harry Potter franchise is considered a family movie because of the children being the main focus of the films and following them on their journey as they also grow up before our own eyes. It is rated with a PG-13 stamp because of the amount of cursing and adult like situations despite being categorized as a family film. The same idea stands with Twentieth Century Fox’s 1993 film, “Mrs. Doubtfire”. This movie is seen as a family film, but goes against the whole “Disney model” because it contains adult like situations and experiences that children simply don’t understand. It is mainly categorized as a family film because family and children are the main idea of the entire film.

In studies found, the “Disney model” has often spread to other genres of films that even focus the majority on adults. Many believe that the idea of a “Disney model” is widely successful and helpful when advertising and informing its viewers of why they should go and see this movie. And if the children like it, they tell their friends ultimately spreading the word about this family oriented film that is now out in theaters. While many who follow the “Disney model” may have nothing to do with Disney, it seems to be the way that most family films are leaning towards in regards to rules of what they can do in films.

When it comes to family oriented films, it is without a doubt that Disney seems to be the main provider of some good family fun and entertainment. Other companies as well follow by the idea of a “Disney model”, but make the film there way which could include crude humor and controversial topics, yet still have a focus on children and the idea to provide entertainment to an entire family. The two described films, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” and “Cheaper by the Dozen”, are both family films for obvious reasons, and could have been potentially distributed by Disney as seen in the comparison to Disney films above. Despite having hidden meanings for adults to enjoy, they are still all around made for families and children to watch together. When compared to other family oriented films, they are seemingly more appropriate with humor and entertainment than others because of the age range they seem to be reaching. Most Disney models seem to aim for a lower age therefore making most movies appropriate yet entertaining in every possible way. Despite being labeled as a “Disney model”, many films that are distributed by companies other than Disney still follow the rules and ideas as the everyday Disney film.

Works Cited
1. Giroux, Henry A., and Pollock, Grace. The Mouse that Roared. United Kingdom. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. 2010. Print.
2. Maltin, Lenard. The Disney Films. United States. JessieFilm Ltd. 1995, 2000. Print.
3. Junod, Allison. “The Disney Model: Changing the Film Industry Forever”. SBCC Film Reviews. May 7, 2012. Web. April 2, 2015.


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