OT: BK toys for PG-13 Simpson's movie

[nuzmom]

This probably isn't the first time, but for some reason this bothers me. The toys that are currently in the Kids Meals at Burger King are for the Simpson Movie. That movie is rated PG-13. The meals that the toys are in are for kids!!! Why are they promoting a movie that "suggests" it's not for children under 13 when that is exactly the age group consuming the kids meals? Yes, I'm sure it's money, but I do not like the message it sends to our children. Why have a rating system if it's completely ok to promote to the audience that it is not meant for?

Maybe my opinion is slightly swayed because I do not like the Simpson's AT ALL and it's certainly NOT for my children.

 

[ujpest_doza]

I don't think we have a PG-13 rating in England and i'm sure The Simpsons is rated PG. Haven't been to see it yet and will probably wait until its on DVD or TV as the price of a trip to the Cinema in England is extortionate.

I think The Simpsons is hilarious personally and is one of those cartoons that appeals to both children and adults as it has gags for the kids and gags for the adults as well.

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

I don't know what is rated but I agree that it isn't a movie for kids so why market toys to them? It annoys me as well.

 

[LauraAnn630]

I agree and dont get me started about SpongeBob ...

I do not see where bad behavior and bad manors is funny.

My kids are bad enough they do not need any new ideas.

 

[blbh23]

I agree wholeheartedly with this. It is so frustrating when they market the toys to an audience that is not the target age. My 5 year old has been begging me to see the Simpson’s and Transformers! Both in my opinion not appropriate for him to watch since they are pg-13. There is a reason they are rated this. He would not even know they existed if it wasn’t for the toys. I really wish they would just get rid of the toys all together but they bring in too much money. That's just my 2 cents!

 

[jakenjess]

My kids are 10 and 12 now, my oldest has seen The Simpsons movie, but I remember when they were younger getting very frustrated that so many "kids" movies (marketed to kids) were rated PG or PG-13. Doesn't make sense!

 

[disneymom3]

I agree wholeheartedly with this. It is so frustrating when they market the toys to an audience that is not the target age. My 5 year old has been begging me to see the Simpson’s and Transformers! Both in my opinion not appropriate for him to watch since they are pg-13. There is a reason they are rated this. He would not even know they existed if it wasn’t for the toys. I really wish they would just get rid of the toys all together but they bring in too much money. That's just my 2 cents!

Oh-ho, don't forget Fantastic 4 and Spiderman 3. Both of those had toys at McDs or BK too. I have gotten to be mean mommy and intentionally avoid fast food when I know the toys really suck. Of course, the boys had some dumb one when the girls had Hello Kitty which had really cute stuff.

 

[candyfloss]

don't flame me....but PG or PG13 are NOT adult rating films! they are after all Parental Guidance, meaning that some parents might want to not let young children see it. But ARE suitable for children.

 

[mkcp91]

Oh-ho, don't forget Fantastic 4 and Spiderman 3. Both of those had toys at McDs or BK too.

And don't forget Pirates of the Caribbean! All of them are rated PG-13!! Just because it's Disney doesn't mean I'm going to let my 6 year old watch those movies. And it seems like he is aggressively being marketed to. Not only McD happy meals, but jammies, toys, coloring books and more. Size small Jack Sparrow Halloween costumes anyone? That and Transformers I think are the hardest for him. He really wants to see those movies and I have to become mean momma and say no. Either make the films age appropriate, or don't market it to younger kids!

 

[MSSANDRA]

PG movies are intended for children ages 13 and over. Happy meals are geared to preschool -young elementry age. This happens all the time but i think it is just wrong. We do not do the simpsons in our home and even though DS is now a teen ager and see it in other's homes, we choose not to watch in our home. There are just too many child themes for those meals to have to use pg13 movies.

 

[jakenjess]

don't flame me....but PG or PG13 are NOT adult rating films! they are after all Parental Guidance, meaning that some parents might want to not let young children see it. But ARE suitable for children.

I agree that some are suitable for children, and as a parent it's my call what to let them see. But as far as marketing for PG-13 films, I agree that it's not appropriate for a Happy Meal or the like, that very few older children will be ordering. The toys (and meals) and meant for younger children, most of whom would not be allowed to see a movie rated PG-13.

 

[3jsmommy]

The "happy" meal itself probably does more harm than seeing the movie would do!! .

 

[dcforbreakfast]

Oh boy you've opened a can of worms here for me! I HATE this. Same goes for the supposedly "kids" movies, the cartoons that are directly aimed at kids but then have inappropriate things in them so they can appeal to the parents. Listen, if I take my kid to see a kids movie, I don't expect it to appeal to me. I've heard things like damn, calling people names etc, in movies that are supposed to be aimed at kids! Drives me CRAZY.

The toys bug me too. Spiderman, Pirates, Star Wars (although I finally gave in on that one, due to my husband's insistance) all have tons of toys aimed toward kids, but the movies are not for kids. Hollywood sucks.

You really have to protect your children from all the garbage. I've blocked Nickelodeon just because I can't depend on it for appropriate programming. I NEVER have to worry about the Disney channel. Spongebob was making my kid nuts, so we finally banned it. He's survived.

Ladies and gentlemen, you are the good parents. I have been to R rated movies at 10 o'clock at night and idiots are dragging their toddlers and pre-schoolers into the film. Toddlers!!!!!! Get a babysitter!!! I want to bang them on the head. No wonder kids are so screwed up.

 

[twinspluscade]

Nope, doesn't bother me at all. But we also took our kids (5,5,almost 4) to see The Simpsons movie...and a good time was had by all. . It was very tame to be rated PG-13, IMO. It was certainly no racier than the show, which we watch every week.

Helicopter Mom, I am not

 

[blbh23]

3jsmommy---"The "happy" meal itself probably does more harm than seeing the movie would do!! ."
Good point!!!

I must say though that we went to the free movie at our local theatre and my 2 yr old son ran into the Simpson’s movie...I followed to get him out and only saw a couple seconds but what I did see was a group of people holding torches and some nooses (sp) hanging from a tree ...hardly appropriate for my 5 year old. But that's just my opinion.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

This bothers me too! My kids can't see Shrek, as well as most of the movies listed, either. Perhaps this is related to what kids watch. Yesterday I had lunch with my DD in kindergarten. (It was her birthday.) I could not believe the rudeness of two of the boys (bodily noises on purpose, talking about being naked, saying shut up - all in 20 minutes). I asked my DH where kids learn this because surely their parents don't teach them this. It has to be the media.

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

The "happy" meal itself probably does more harm than seeing the movie would do!! .

OMG, I was just about to post the same thing. I'd be more concerned with my kids eating a whopper and fries rather than playing with a plastic Simpsons toy. And really, what difference does it make what the movie is rated - it's a simple little toy!

 

[blbh23]

For me it's not so much the toy itself. It's more about my son getting these toys, thinking they're cool and driving me crazy to see a movie which is not age appropriate for him. Also the commercials, "COLLECT THEM ALL" I cannot count how many times he will say, "I want to collect them all!" and cry because I say no. He does not need to all that junk or junk food. I just don't understand why they would market pg-13 movies to a 3-6 year old crowd.

 

[nuzmom]

I'd be more concerned with my kids eating a whopper and fries rather than playing with a plastic Simpsons toy. And really, what difference does it make what the movie is rated - it's a simple little toy!

Why do you think the toy is in the meals? To get kids to want to go see the movie!!!! The movie is rated PG-13 to "warn" parents that it may not be suitable for kids under 13 (the same kids that are eating the meals).

 

[The Disney Bunch]

I hate the toys that Burger King offers no matter what the tie-in - they are cheap junk which make no sense. Why can't they offer decent toys like McDonald's or Wendy's? It seems to me that BK offers more for boys while McDonald's is more for girls.

It would bother me tremendously to have toys offered for a movie that small children cannot see. That is silly. It is like marketing cigarettes to children. They cannot see the movie, why entice them?