Kate wants to kiss a frog. Because she thinks it will turn her into one. And she really likes to pretend to be a frog.
We saw The Princess and the Frog the day before Christmas. The movie is big talk around these parts, where there is an acute sensitivity towards how this city and us, the people who live within it, are characterized. Let’s just say that we’re accustomed to disappointment and leave it at that.
With this movie? Our peanut gallery was not disappointed.
Okay, YES. Cajuns are stereotyped to be backwards fools with few teeth, which was not a surprise. It’s a cartoon. There has to be someone for good-humored slapstick conflict and in a film based in the South, it’s not a surprise where the buffoon character is going to come from. (And in all honesty, it could have been much worse.) Besides, the main Cajun representation of the film, beloved ole’ Ray, is the hero of the story. (Plus, he’s hilariously funny. “I’m from far, far away…” “Oh, y’all in from Shreveport?”)
All in all, the beautiful pictures of New Orleans — so delicately and thoughtfully portrayed — were as authentic as they come. In terms of the food, I was all ready to give an eye-roll over all the talk about gumbo and beignets, as if that’s all we eat around here. But then just last night we made that very same movie tableau. There we were, sharing in on a friends gumbo pot, talking and laughing while the kids ran around collecting fallen magnolia leaves and singing Louisiana songs. So, yes, there is a lot of gumbo-talk and eating and all that. But for the record, we do eat other things, too.
We loved the bands in the street, the bright colors of each setting, the subtle hints to local lore and tradition (Evangeline, as the best example).
In the minefield of race and representations, I found the movie respectful. Are Tiana and her family too much the happy servant? I’m sure this is already out there in spades. But it’s a fairytale following the fairytale story line — poor girl turned princess. I thought that French-speaking, penniless Prince Naveen was made somewhat racially ambiguous on purpose. Class and race are tied together in uncomfortable ways not just in New Orleans but all through the United States — the movie didn’t betray this reality. Unlike many other classic Disney animation films, I feel very comfortable showing this to my kids without having to apply revisionist history. (Having conversations about what Cinderella majors in when she goes to college, as an example.)
Have others seen The Princess and the Frog? Tell me then, y’all — did it make you fall in love, even a little bit, with our beautiful city and wonderful State?
kitty | 30-Dec-09 at 2:33 am | Permalink
There was a Cajun with missing teeth?
:::shrink:::
I haven’t seen the movie, but after reading your review, I’m looking forward to it. I didn’t realize it had that much to do with Louisiana.
Gumbo in a cartoon? Wow.
Cara | 30-Dec-09 at 7:42 am | Permalink
Loved this movie! I love almost anything Disney to begin with but this has become my new favorite Disney movie and Tiana is my new favorite princess. I love that they went back to 2D hand dawn animation for this one. I love that she(Tiana) didn’t need to be rescued by the prince and was her own person. I love the way the city was portrayed, like you I was worried about this. And food and music are central to our culture so I love that both were incorporated throughout the whole movie. I was worried with all the hoopla over her being the first African American Princess but honestly in watching the movie, I didn’t see color and neither did the kids. Ray was our favorite character, that little bug was so cute and he did remind me of an old Cajun grandpa. Did I mention I loved this movie? It’s a must see and when it comes out on DVD it’s going to be one we must own.
Melanie | 30-Dec-09 at 4:27 pm | Permalink
Glad to hear you enjoyed it. We haven’t seen it yet!! I’ve heard great things about it, but I also heard the voo-doo part is a bit scary for younger kids. My girls are afraid of everything, but I may suck it up and take them to the theater this weekend.
Emmy | 31-Dec-09 at 4:13 am | Permalink
Thumbs up from us…
I thought that, aside from the over-use of “Cher” & honey on those beignets, it was pretty true to heart. I thought the dichotomy of the classes was well-represented through the concept of the Southern Belle society girls and their servants…loved the themes of working hard but having fun. And the importance of love…I was so happy that Tiana found joie de vivre by the film’s end–how truly New Orleans can you get? And I love the message about dreaming big and working to get there too…The bug was dahlin’ and he could’ve worked just as well without being tied to an ethnic group (and just been the loud, comical sidekick that exists in EVERY Disney film!)…but all-in-all I thought it was great!!!
Michelle | 01-Jan-10 at 8:03 am | Permalink
I LOVED this movie. I wanted to be offended by the froggin’ cajuns, but after second thought I got over it. They were cartoon funny, and I’m sure I know three guys just like that. I agree with Melanie though, in that it was a bit scary. Won’t let my 2yr old see it for a while, but the first graders all loved it.
FYI, my 6 yr old LOVES the new wii game she got for Christmas. Easy enough for her to play but cute and fun and with all the music and cooking and awesomeness!
Gotta run and make a gumbo, cher!
A | 06-Jan-10 at 2:49 pm | Permalink
I loved it as well, although the honey on the beignets scared me. My daughter and I saw it twice, once here in NOLA and once in Atlanta with family. I found it interesting that the people in the Atlanta theater laughed just as hard at the “y’all from Shreveport?” joke. Overall, I thought it was a lovely portrayal of the city.