STORKS, A MOVIE FOR KIDS OR ADULTS?

by Jaelan Austin

The movie Storks is a story of an abandoned business created around the fairy tale of storks delivering babies. It essentially tells the story of a young lady, who was a baby that never made to her family she was supposed to be delivered to, so instead was raised amongst storks and the once thriving business. As the years pass, the business switches from delivering babies, to delivering mail. Long story short, the orphan baby grows to be an adult, accidentally turns on the baby making machine, which processes letter request for babies from families and creates their perfect matched baby, and now they have to deliver the baby successfully which hasn't been done in years. According to Giannetti, this would serve as a leftist film, because of the creative and liberal fantasy views of babies being created by a machine to be perfect matches to what a family asks for and then being delivered to them by a bird. It also has a woman lead role which would ultimately challenge the norm of society, with her ambition and drive to be of some importance/success. The movie Storks was intended to let kids know almost comically, because its not true, that you can choose your family and that the family you choose or create will love you unconditionally.

What was positive about the movie was that they gave kids an appropriate way to imagine where babies come from and how families are made. They didn't over step the boundary of going into real world terminology and facts on where and how babies and families are made. They left room for kids to still be kids while essentially watching a movie about raising babies and finding a family. They also shed light on women, with the main character being a woman and having be such a funny, lovable, and inspiring character who's only goal was to be successful at whatever career she chose and to find her real family. They also had the mother of the little boy, who wrote the letter asking for a sister, play a role of a business mom who could be viewed as the head of the house. That is an idea, usually frowned upon but stressed to be displayed by majority of the female population. 

Though what was very negative about the movie was its entire plotline, as most parents of the kids who watched this movie would say. The parents of the kid audience argued that this movie was about parenthood completely and how hard it is to raise a child, which should be none of concern for a little kid. There were countless scenes where it was intended to poke fun at the unfortunate things that come with having a baby, like crying, lack of sleep, feeding the baby, keeping track of the baby, and the list goes on. Even though, the scenes were humorous it did shine a negative light on parenthood. Making it appear to be an undoable task, and somewhat of the short end of the stick. It even made a subliminal suggestion at fathers not wanting to take care of their kids or be in their life, by having the stork as the male care giver to the baby and his mood always being negative towards the responsibilities coming with the baby. 

In all honesty, after watching the film multiple times the same message appears to be more pressing in my perception of the film and that is the unfathomable task of raising a child. There are way too many scenes displaying being a parent as negative, exhausting, frustrating, and almost life ending. It could very well serve as a way too early PSA for kids about the reality of parenthood. I just don't think that is something that kids should be showed and familiarized with yet. They concept and idea was there and genuine, but ultimately poorly executed and in the end the negative side out shined the positive.

Due to the hit and miss effect of the films intentions, I'd have to rate this a 2 and a half star. The got the positive message across, but equally demonstrated the negative message, which resulted in unwanted backlash.