I remember loving this film as a child, back when I was blissfully ignorant of the hidden themes. Now that I've watched it as an adult I have to say this has to be one of the most abysmal children's films ever. The story is very inappropriate. Thumbelina gets passed around like the flu at an elementary school and sexually harassed by nearly every male character she comes in contact with. Almost every other character physically and/or mentally abuses her. I don't know what kind of message the writers were going for, but that is not a good one to be giving to children.
Sure the follow your dreams theme is good, but I don't see how getting lost, abused, and then at the end of the movie marrying a guy you've spent maybe an hour with counts as someone following their dreams. Even if that guy just happens to be a prince (shocker). The rest of the story doesn't provide much more in terms of quality. There is the stereotypical and unrealistic love at first site relationship and the problem of not fitting in and wanting more. The overall story has a lot of holes and spacing issues, with a very inaccurate time line. The characters were mostly terrible or annoying. The mother, for all the love she claims to have for Thumbelina, doesn't even go looking for her when she goes missing. Instead she sits at home in the off chance someone else will find her, even though she told no one the girl was missing.
The only redeeming factor in the movie are the ballads. "Let Me Be Your Wings, "Soon", and "Soon (Reprise)" are all great songs, even if they seem out of place with the tone of the rest of the film. Thanks, Barry Manilow.
Sure the follow your dreams theme is good, but I don't see how getting lost, abused, and then at the end of the movie marrying a guy you've spent maybe an hour with counts as someone following their dreams. Even if that guy just happens to be a prince (shocker). The rest of the story doesn't provide much more in terms of quality. There is the stereotypical and unrealistic love at first site relationship and the problem of not fitting in and wanting more. The overall story has a lot of holes and spacing issues, with a very inaccurate time line. The characters were mostly terrible or annoying. The mother, for all the love she claims to have for Thumbelina, doesn't even go looking for her when she goes missing. Instead she sits at home in the off chance someone else will find her, even though she told no one the girl was missing.
The only redeeming factor in the movie are the ballads. "Let Me Be Your Wings, "Soon", and "Soon (Reprise)" are all great songs, even if they seem out of place with the tone of the rest of the film. Thanks, Barry Manilow.