Did Santa Paws upset your kids?

[ktlm]

So we sat down tonight for what I thought was going to be DD(4) and I watching a cute little kids movie. I didn't check the Amazon reviews before...oops. The movie is 90 minutes long. For over 60 minutes (2/3) of the movie DD was very upset by the movie and cried several times. At an hour into the movie she was on my lap absolutely bawling hysterically. (And this is the kid who announced at the Thanksgiving table "Hey...we're eating dead turkey" and kept right on eating as her older cousin freaked out.) We watched the end so that she would know there was a happy ending as I was worried that if she did not see the end and know things worked out okay that she would have nightmares and be upset for days, but until about the last few minutes she was pretty freaked out. Even with the happy ending, we had a bit of a rough time getting her to bed tonight, she kept wanting us to come in and give her one more hug and kiss. Not sure if it was related, but I am guessing probably. I have to admit, it was a pretty rough movie for a little kid, *****************SPOILER ALERT*************** Santa's good friend dying (offscreen); grown ups who couldn't have kids; Santa getting hit/knocked down by a car and hitting his head, being robbed and having amnesia; orphans talking about how their parents "didn't make it" and being mistreated similar to, but worse than, Annie Style (DD loves Annie); kid's cherished possessions being burned in an incinerator; Santa and Santa Paws near death. YIKES!!!! Disney, I love you, but one or two of those things would have been enough, you didn't have to throw them all into one movie. Did anyone else's kids have a bad reaction? Was everyone else smart enough to check out the reviews instead of just thinking it would have cute dogs and be something similar to the first movie? I'm not feeling like the greatest mom tonight.

 

[QVCshopper]

Hmmm... My kids have seen a good amount of Disney movies and I rented this one the other night. My husband watched it with the kids (4 and 6) and no one mentioned being scared of anything; no crying either. I don't think they were enthralled with it, but I didn't have any complaints either. (I work at home at night, so I would have heard anything wrong.) Hope your DD is happier now.

BTW, they were scared by the garbage/incinerator scene in Toy Story 3, so we just fast forward. That's always our solution.

 

[scjo68]

I know what you mean. I had gotten the movie because the clip looked really cute...puppies, Christmas, kids singing...

My kids did fine with, didn't get upset at all, but I noticed how serious and dark it was at points. When the cherished doll was incinerated, I was shocked. My kids were OK though.

Overall, it didn't strike me as a good movie. I guess most Disney movies have their dark moments, but they usually have the charm to make it OK. This one didn't seem to.

 

[RMulieri]

Not really.My daughter did fine though I thought to myself it was a little too much and fully expected her to be upset

 

[ireland_nicole]

I don't think it's a particularly well done or well acted movie in general, I didn't feel like Annie needed a christmas makeover- but that having been said...
DD especially was scared in parts, but sat in my lap for a while and I promised it would be ok in the end. They watched it through, and liked the ending, and I had positive feedback from them in the end. They've asked to watch it once more, but to be honest, they've requested Barbie nutcracker and the new Veggitales Christmas movie more.

 

[Perryluver22]

That's okay but I love Santa Buddies and know Santa Paws is going on from that a little.

I don't think it's that dark but I haven't seen Santa Paws.

 

[ktlm]

BTW, they were scared by the garbage/incinerator scene in Toy Story 3, so we just fast forward. That's always our solution.

The incinerator scenes were along the same lines as Toy Story 3. DD stood up in the theater with her hands over her mouth on that one, but she wasn't really upset.

scjo68, I was shocked when they fried the doll too....I kept expecting one of the kids to sneak down and pull it out. DD was crying. I agree, there wasn't the charm and humor thoughout to balance out the darkness.

Perryluver22, don't expect it to be anything like Santa Buddies. That was my mistake. We liked Santa Buddies last year and I figured since it was related it would be something along the same lines. It never even crossed my mind that there was any possibility it would be a dark movie throughout, with very little humor. DD can be just a little bit sensitive to things in movies sometimes, but she has seen a ton of Disney movies with dark moments and NEVER had a reaction like this....well except for when she was 2 and the "kitchen lady" put Cinderella in the basement in Cinderella 3- for some reason that minor scene (good grief, she didn't even lock her in) used to get her crying every time when she was little. DH and I tried to be sympathetic on that one, but we had a hard time not laughing...especially when she was still doing it about the 4th time she watched the movie. Well, at least there weren't any nightmares last night. Judging from the Amazon reviews, I'm not the only parent whose child was bawling hysterically watching this movie.

 

[Perryluver22]

Awww it's not like Santa Buddies?

That sucks.

Ironically I was watching Santa Buddies today on Disney Cinemagic and I was gonna buy Santa Paws on DVD.

Thanks for the warning.

My sister loves Toy Story 3 by the way.

She saw it in the theater over the Summer.

I haven't seen it yet but the climax will probably have me curious even though I know they get rescued from reading disboards.

I wanna see Tangled though.

I hope your kid's okay.

 

[ktlm]

Awww it's not like Santa Buddies?

That sucks.

Ironically I was watching Santa Buddies today on Disney Cinemagic and I was gonna buy Santa Paws on DVD.

Thanks for the warning.

I wanna see Tangled though.

I hope your kid's okay.

Thanks! I'm sure she's fine, just an upsetting hour and a half! I'd say definitely rent that one before you buy! You might like it as my opinion may be swayed by the fact I was dealing with a crying child as I was trying to watch it. We may have to pull out Santa Buddies tonight.

Tangled is wonderful!!!!! Even DH liked it. We had to do the non-3d version because DD wears glasses and it causes her issues with the theater's 3-D glasses, but I really want to see it in 3-D. DH and I may have to go again without her, but don't tell! (Don't feel sorry for her, she has already told her Grandma she is taking her to see it, and she has already placed her Order with me for the DVD the minute it comes out!)

 

[Perryluver22]

Aww I'm glad she got over being upset and surprised Santa Paws isn't like Santa Buddies in charm from what you're saying but I'll wait until it comes onto Disney Channel.

I wanna see Tangled next month but I don't do E-D eitther because I wear glasses and visually impaired so the 3-D version is no go for me but I love the songs especially When Will my Life Begin?

 

[QVCshopper]

Update: I asked my kids and he said they were a little scared at some parts but kept walking out of the room, etc. He didn't think they liked it so much. Glad we just rented it.

 

[SarahKate]

Watched it with DD8. She wasn't upset by it, but I don't think she was blown away either. It was wayyyyyy too dark for a children/family movie. And why oh why do movies with orphanages/foster homes have to be run by EVIL people? I have no real familiarity with the system, but I'm sure there are good ones and bad ones - do these movies always have to stereotype? I think the fact that children are in this orphanage setting, and knowing the little girl lost her parents is SAD enough for one movie. The woman running the place was just too, too, too mean. It was just all unnecessary. Being Disney, of course we know it will have a happy ending at least. Definitely not one we will be buying.

 

[jessp1021]

I wasn't very thrilled with it either..it even had me in tears and watching the toys go into the fire really had my 3 yr old freaked out! I wasn't too hot on Tangled either..we watched part of it and I was not happy at all about the message that was coming across in the beginning between the "mom" and daughter! My DD wasn't too sold on it either..as an adult I didn't realize just how scary some disney movies can be for her age..we usually fast forward for her and of course watch it with her to relieve any fears..

 

[jessp1021]

Watched it with DD8. She wasn't upset by it, but I don't think she was blown away either. It was wayyyyyy too dark for a children/family movie. And why oh why do movies with orphanages/foster homes have to be run by EVIL people? I have no real familiarity with the system, but I'm sure there are good ones and bad ones - do these movies always have to stereotype? I think the fact that children are in this orphanage setting, and knowing the little girl lost her parents is SAD enough for one movie. The woman running the place was just too, too, too mean. It was just all unnecessary. Being Disney, of course we know it will have a happy ending at least. Definitely not one we will be buying.

Agreed..foster homes are just like regular homes..some good and some bad and it isn't fair for children that are in good foster homes with loving parents to have to see that on a movie..I agree also that the lady took it wayyyy to far especially the sending the child to the basement for the night..I don't think children should be subjected to that rather it is on movie or in real life!

 

[pxidst119]

We were all upset by this movie too. We just wanted a happy Christmas movie. I usually do more research before I buy a movie but I just assumed cute Disney Christmas movie with puppies. Just a spur of the moment purchase. The pictures on the back all looked very happy. Very misleading. I actually threw out the DVD. Glad I didn't spend the money on BluRay.