Happy Baby is OBSESSED with Minions. For the last year and a half that sweet boy has fixed his little heart on all things yellow, vitamin-shaped, and wearing overalls (you can see his Minion birthday party HERE).
He sleeps with about 20 different toy Minions in his bed – all ranging in size from as small as the cap of a tube of toothpaste, to as big as a pillow.
He has multiple sets of Minion pajamas, slippers, hats, and even underwear.
His passion for carrying DVDs with him everywhere he goes consistently narrows down to his top favorites – Despicable Me 1 or 2 or the version that came out featuring just the Minion mini-movies.
We loved Despicable Me 1 and 2. Those movies were light-hearted, humorous, and fun with really redemptive story lines – which was great for those of us who have children that like to watch movies 14,000 times in a row.
Needless to say, when they started advertising for the Minion movie, my husband and I were like NO BRAINER. It would be a perfect summer family fun outing!
After weeks of counting down, when the movie finally released this past Friday, we were front in line at the theater.
As the plot unfolded, however, I must have glanced over at the hubs several times – sometimes in surprise, but mostly in disappointment.
While there were some cute, funny moments where the boys laughed out loud and at the end there was a really great moment where Kevin ‘sacrifices’ his life to save everyone, I thought the majority of the other characters and surrounding themes were just plain weird, with several of pockets of inappropriateness, and well… darkness.
Happy Buddy is a literal SPONGE and will remember anything and everything about a movie. The problem is he typically absorbs all of the bad stuff about a show and then I have to work really hard to remind and reteach him about the good stuff. For this reason we usually research a movie quite religiously before we see it, but with the Minion Movie we felt confident it would deliver and didn’t bother to check reviews.
I wish I had (or at least paid more attention to the previews).
The whole movie is about the minions’ quest to find the most evil person in the world to serve. Along their journey they encounter evil villain after evil villain (many of whom are actually scary and without the heart that Gru seemed to have in the Despicable Me movies), which eventually leads to an evil villain showdown at the end of the movie.
The amount of focus on ‘evil’ was really what left me feeling somewhat icky when the movie was over.
I know it’s ‘just a movie’ and there were plenty of people who saw the movie and didn’t feel the same way, but for our family, the battle with the flesh is so incredibly real. The pull toward the ‘bad’ or the ‘evil’ is already so much a part of our sinful nature that throwing it around in front of my kids’ faces for almost 2 hours is really undoing and frustrating. We got home from the movie and of course the boys were running around the house menacingly shouting that they were EVVVVIIILLLLL and going to take over the world.
{{Insert forehead slap here.}}
As I made dinner I started to feel kind of discouraged. Beyond the movie, I was already feeling heavy from the last couple of weeks of negative news report after negative news report and how it just seems like evil is really taking over the world. The movie and my boys’ behavior were sort of the icing on the cake of some thoughts I had already been thinking about concerning the bigger picture of a dark world and how to make a difference.
How do I raise kids who fight for GOOD? How do I raise kids who want to be Heroes for rightness and light and truth in a world that is increasing in darkness?
That’s when the hubs walked into the kitchen and invited me back to the bedroom to see a project he had been working on for the last 20 minutes. When I got the bedroom I saw that he had hung a mirror that I had scribbled down on a to do list the day before. I had no intention of him even seeing my to-do list yet let alone complete the project so quickly!
I burst into tears.
Of course the hubs was stunned by my response and immediately asked if I was pregnant – hahahahaha (I’m not).
My emotional outburst had less to do with hormones and more to do with a reaction to my husband’s display of goodness in the middle of my train wreck of negative thoughts.
Romans 12:21 says, “Don’t let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good.”
We cannot forget that all the evil in the world cannot ever defeat us because of JESUS’ good work on the cross.
And that inspires us to get out there and find ways to defeat the darkness with the light we have from Him.
This is the message for our children. While I wasn’t a fan of the Minion Movie, we did have a really good conversation with our boys at dinner about good vs. evil and how to be a true hero.
True heroes lay down their lives for someone – true heroes look for ways to bless others.
Like hanging a mirror, or sitting with someone at school who looks lonely, or standing up for the kid getting picked on during recess…
True heroes share their toys, hug someone when they are hurt, bring a gift just because, use their tongue to build others up instead of tear them down…
The Message Bible translates Romans 12:20-21 like this, “Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.”
If you’re wondering how you **with the Lord’s help** can raise kids who fight for what’s right, start by teaching them how to do good to everyone.
I wonder what the minions would be like if they chose to get the best of evil by doing good?
For starters, I imagine they would share their bananas – ha!
– Julie 🙂
**I will be the first to admit I am really sensitive to material that might negatively influence my kids because my kids seem to absorb it more than others. Every family is different. You can find another review of the movie over at Plugged In.
Yes! We were first in line on Friday too to see the Minion movie. Dressed the kids in their Minion shirts an they brought their Minion toys … super excited to see this movie. And it was awful. My husband and I both hated it, my 4 yo son was scared for most of it, and my daughter liked parts of it. Truly awful. What could have been a cute movie about them finding Gru, or how they lived their lives, or their language, or travels … anything else! … turned into a movie of mean people, humorless jokes and not one redeeming character. So very disappointed.
Thank you, Julie! We too loved the Despicable Me movies and my husband and I think the concept of the minions is hilarious. But, after seeing the trailer for this one, I wondered if it might be just what you described. Thank you for this super helpful (and hilarious and poignant–how do you always do that?) review.
I follow her. Maybe this isn’t a good idea today.
Xo
Sent from my iPad
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I posted a link to your blog on my Facebook page concerning your minion posting…..hope it was okay without checking with you first. I’m a Grammy and wanted my friends with young children to read it also. Enjoy your postings and have read your blog since the birth of your Happy Baby and prayed for. Blessings to you.
Thank you for sharing this. I was planning to take my girls to see the movie this week, but I think I won’t.
Went to see it this weekend and felt the same way. Great post.
I like the Minions and read your wonderful description of the adventures you had with your children and how your husband was your answered prayer. After having watched both Despicable Me and Despicable me 2 and now The Minion Movie, I’m reminded that The Minion Movie chronologically takes place before the Despicable Me movies; before they met Gru and before Gru and the Minions had a change of heart because of the love of the orphans, Agnes, Edith and Margo, from Miss Hattie’s home. Therefore embodied Romans 12:21, “Don’t let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good.” They overcame evil with the good.
I SO appreciated this post and can’t thank you enough for sharing it. This is just the way the enemy works. He draws us in with the bait of inserting “good” things or things that appear to be good, then he progressively takes things downhill. The same thing happened in the How To Train Your Dragon series. The third movie that came out inserted just one sly, sneaky, little line in it insinuating that one of the main, most popular characters might be gay. We had read Christ-centered reviews warning against it ahead of time, and this was where we had to put our foot down and NOT support their cause any longer. Thankfully, many other parents did the same. One Million Moms would probably be very interested in hearing your slant on this, should you feel led to contact them and share this post with Monica Cole, the director. You can go to the American Family Association’s website to learn how to reach her. God bless you for getting the word out about this movie. You are a true blessing. 🙂
Wow. I also thought the Minions were a no brainer and was planning on using them for my preschool class decorations. Now I’m having second thoughts! Thanks for the info about the movie. I guess I’ll stick to owls or butterflies…..although the minions are just so cute!
Carolyn, I wouldn’t toss the idea about using the minions for preschool decor. I am certainly not banning minions completely. It was just that movie and some of the surrounding themes that troubled me! But my kids still love their minions and all their minion paraphernalia! 🙂 I know whatever you choose will be amazing and a blessing to your students.
Thanks for this post. After seeing the trailer my husband and I were not excited to have our kids see this due to a lot of inappropriate humor (thong on a minion–what?!?!). This just reinforces my original instinct to skip this one. That being said–we can’t prevent our kids from seeing every inappropriate thing in the world so I was also encouraged by how you handled the movie and the conversation you had with your boys!
Dear Julie,
Thank you for writing this post. I felt exactly the same way last night as we suffered through the movie. I wanted to get up and leave! Thankfully, my kids(twin b&g) are 12 and could see the evil for themselves. They too were very disappointed minion fans. As you said, it did provide a good opportunity for conversation about how we live our lives and serve our Lord. With God’s help, we and our children will continue to stand strong, and turn away from evil.
Thank you for sharing your stories, you touch many lives!
God’s Blessings, Jen Edinger
I’m so glad you wrote this. My husband and I were just talking this morning about taking our 6 & 5 yr old to see the Minion movie this coming Friday. They too love the minions and have watched the previous shorts and movies multiple times.
This is the same scripture our pastor spoke about today. Refreshing to hear it twice. God wanted me to know this also. The world is in a mess right now, but we must look to God for comfort and protect our children.
What a great reminder to do good. God has some really amazing ways of reminding us!
Oh my what is this world coming to? This should be reposted every day for a while. I am sure you saved a lot of parents from a terrible experience. Thanks for posting and I am going to go share this post. You are such a good Fairy!!!
Thank you for writing these post they bless my life immensely. God continue to inspire you! Xoxox
Thank you for sharing this. I appreciate your comments about the evil are seeing in our world these days. I don’t need or want to fill the minds of my kids anymore than they are already exposed too.
Wow! Really amazing post. Thanks. We all need reminders, and I needed one today. Your post was informative, honest and real.
Hi Julie, I’ve been following your blog for a while and love it! About the movies, I say stick with lion king. Some oldies just have better messages! 🙂
Thank you from a mom in Aldergrove, BC Canada.Doreen McIntyre
Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2015 11:00:53 +0000 To: [email protected]
Hi Fairy. Maybe this is the subject of another blog but I’m interested in how that conversation about fighting evil in this world and Minion-move-damage-control went between you and the boys….What did you say and how did they respond?? Like you, I have a very impressionable child and although most programs in Disney Junior (Asia) are okay, I can’t completely shield her from other things evil that so conveniently find their way into their young minds through TV and movies and ahem…other people. And sometimes, I don’t really know how to talk to her about evil. How’d you do it? Oh, and here’s a big THUMBS UP! to the Happy Hubby. His reaction to your outburst was precious. Really got me cracking up. God bless you! — France
Thank you so much for sharing your disappointment- I was planning to take my nephew to see the movie this week! I too have really struggled with the amount of evil in our world. Thank you also for sharing the verses. I certainly want to do GOOD works! Great post!
I needed to hear this! I especially love what you said: True heroes lay down their lives for someone – true heroes look for ways to bless others.
Like hanging a mirror, or sitting with someone at school who looks lonely, or standing up for the kid getting picked on during recess…
True heroes share their toys, hug someone when they are hurt, bring a gift just because, use their tongue to build others up instead of tear them down…
The Message Bible translates Romans 12:20-21 like this, “Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.”
I love it. I have two daughters and they too have been obsessed with those little minions. I haven’t taken them to watch the movie, and not completely sure I will. But, your blog has really inspired me to teach them to choose good, to be a light in this world of darkness and make a difference all with the help of the lord! Thanks for opening up my eyes. And knowing that good has already won over evil through the work of Jesus on the Cross is what we need to think of to keep us encouraged. God bless you.
Julie, this post meant so much to me. We were thinking of seeing the Minion movie as well and I’m thankful for your review. I have also been discouraged with the evil that does seem to be consuming the world and how we help our children navigate it all. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and struggles.
Julie, may I post your article in my blog? I would love many mom can read it…..This is wonderful….give lots of perspectives and realities……. I really love that……. let me know. (Didi Rasmussen of (didiatreliefsociety.blogspot.com)
Thank you so much!!! After reading your post when it popped into my email, I forwarded it with this message:
I am forwarding this email article to friends with children/grandchildren for your prayerful consideration. I know some will not bat an eye, while others will think carefully about what they allow little minds to absorb. For me, I have a 23 y/o and an almost 17 y/o and I can tell you honestly, I so wish I had not allowed many things to breech the protective wall that we as parents are able to provide our children, particularly when they are young. I can see now, how my casual attitude has affected them today. I believe we do not consider how their little minds, dreams, souls are affected and how it shapes their tomorrows. As my former pastor used to say: “Garbage in, garbage out.” Food for thought sent in love. ~Heather
[Rom 8:6 NLT] 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
[2Jo 1:8 ESV] 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.
[Pro 20:7 ESV] 7 The righteous who walks in his integrity– blessed are his children after him!
[Pro 17:6 ESV] 6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.
[Pro 20:7 ESV] 7 The righteous who walks in his integrity– blessed are his children after him!
So pleased I read this! My two are pretty young, 4 and 2 but have become obsessed with Minions so I was thinking about taking them to see the movie. My eldest is really sensitive though so this would definitely not be right for her, thanks for sharing! x
thank you for this post – after spending $90 and an afternoon of our families vacation on this movie – I was also very disappointed – thank you for giving me new thoughts on how to look at movies I take my family to in the future – and ways to turn this one into a teachable moment for God – blessings April
Ha! You should seriously send a suggestion to the writers/producers etc. of the minion movie to make one of the opposite theme–doing good! I wonder if they would consider it. I would love to see it!!