Tale As Old As Time

This past Thursday my best friend and I took our daughters (14,10 respectively) to the opening of Beauty and the Beast.

Because of remarks the director had stated regarding the character, Lefou and his sexuality, many

Christians were/are calling for a boycott.

As, a family we made the choice not to participate and address any issues head on that might arise.

After all, we make this decision  about every movie we see.  We are diligent to check pluggedin.com

 and other on line resources, to help us make our decision, and because of the information we receive

there, we either pass, or take the opportunity to talk with the kids about whatever issues might have

 cause for concern in each particular movie.

But, this time, frankly the whole thing felt contrived from both sides.

Let's be real, there's nothing a branch of Christianity loves more than a boycott.

I went in with my mom radar on high alert. Waiting for 'the scene' I would need to talk through

later with my daughter.  What I got instead was a beautiful, lovely movie.  There were no

'gay scenes'.  Nothing you would have to explain. 

Lefou is still the sidekick of Gaston who gushes and preens over him. . .just like in the original

Disney version. I always thought he was playing to type of a stereotypical gay man in the original

but, I'm pretty sure that's just a stereotypical French man. 

Lefou talks to Gaston about his relationship with women.  At one point during the Gaston song,

they embrace and Lefou says "that's too much isn't it" and they both agree.

When Gaston leads the raid with the townspeople to the castle and the fight ensues, the wardrobe

attacks three men, wrapping them in ribbons and gowns and wigs of the time period, two run away

one briefly looks into the camera and smiles. ( It remind me of the Bugs  Bunny cartoons when he

would dress in drag-although Bugs always seemed to be much more sexualized than this even

remotely was.)

Spoiler Alert:

At the end when the spell is broken and they've all returned to their human form, there is a beautiful

dance scene (think harpsichord  and very old fashioned waltzing) where everyone is moving and

twirling and exchanging partners, and one spin of the partner change meets Lefou with the man

from the wardrobe scene (dressed in the fashion for a man of the time) and nothing. . .no wink

at the camera, just the end.


Our theater cheered and clapped at the end. My Belle already has a date with her daddy to see it

again. 


We (on the Christian right) CLAMOR  for Hollywood to make family films then we when hear

something said to, let's be honest, illicit a reaction from us, we fall right into the trap. 

Without seeing it for ourselves, we dig our heels in and shout boycott from our highest hilltops.

And the world is watching.

I do believe there is a case to be made for not letting an agenda be forced upon our children and our

society. But, this isn't the movie on which to base that argument.

Be my guest and go see this lovely movie. 

Save your righteous indignation for another day. I'm sure there will be a true battle to be had, but

we will have used all our credibility up on nonsense fights like this one.

Have some popcorn and sing a long for me.


Bonjour !