MORAL OF THE MOVIE

Keep Moving Forward. It is easy to get bogged down by the negative things in life and the moments you wish you could have back from your past. Meet The Robinsons, however, shows us why it’s so important to “keep moving forward” and be grateful for everything that you already have and will end up having in the future. Instead of trying your best to avoid failure and loss, give it your all every time and learn from your mistakes/failures. In the end, even when life seems as gloomy as possible, there is still a lot to be grateful for and a lot to look forward to.

WHO I THINK WOULD MOST ENJOY THIS MOVIE

Fans of Pixar movies like Toy Story, Inside Out, etc. that are family-oriented animated films with surprisingly powerful messages about life that can impact a child as much as an adult. Children will have several moments that are catered to their humor, but there are a lot of moments left for adults as well, so it’s truly a good time for just about anyone. Also, anyone who has ever felt unappreciated or has trouble getting bogged down by their past.

ADDITIONAL NOTES/COMMENTARY

After a two week hiatus due to college coursework piling up, we are back with a Thankful Moral of the Movie in the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday. There’s a lot to be said about the holiday and its origins, but I will mainly focus on the theme of gratitude for this review. There are a lot of movies set in holidays that promote the theme of gratitude and the family bond, but the first one that came to mind for this installment of Thankful Moral of the Movie does both without being set during a holiday: Meet The Robinsons. I remember watching it for the first time 13 years ago and distinctly remember leaving the theater in complete awe. The movie’s morals are pretty profound for a 7 year-old to grasp at first, but they’re simplified to a memorable catchphrase: keep moving forward. Since then though, the movie’s message has had a profound impact on me and my way of thinking, so that’s what I’d like to share with you in this review. Having revisited it recently, I’ve learned to appreciate this movie even more with a deeper level of understanding and context. Lewis, the main character, represents those of us that feel unappreciated and seek to do whatever we can to obtain what we desire the most: acceptance and recognition. All anyone ever wants is some appreciation. Lewis is just like the rest of us, but with a very specific backstory of being left at an orphanage by his mother as a baby. Nevertheless, the film is a testament to the belief that everything happens for a reason no matter how grim it may seem. You just have to have faith. And if you’re not too religious, then you have to find that reason anyways and make something of it so that you can learn and be a better person because of it. What’s great about this movie is that the moral goes beyond the traditional “never give up” narrative. It shows us what we have to be grateful for. The ability to fail and learn from failure is incredibly under-appreciated. There are too many success stories that focus on the triumphs without showing all of the trials and tribulations that were necessary to reach that breakthrough. Another impactful part of this movie is the quirkiness of the Robinson family. Everyone in the family is accepted and embraced for who they are. Lewis is always seeking acceptance, but he remains true to himself. That struck a chord with 7 year-old me and is something that I try to live by even nowadays. In a time of holidays, it is important to accept yourself for who you are as much as you accept your loved ones for who they are. Embrace your close ones like the Robinson family does. Be grateful to have someone to care for you and someone you care for. It is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. The easy route is always to see the glass as half empty but it is essential to be grateful that A) the glass is half full and B) the glass can be filled some more. Meet The Robinson has taught me all of this and so much more through its powerful story, intelligent writing, emotional music, and masterful direction. For the time, it was spectacular animation too, so I have to give a nod to that as well. Overall, I’d recommend that you watch Meet The Robinsons and any similar movie that makes you feel especially grateful to have loved ones and a future you can always look forward to by always giving it your all and being your truest self. Happy Thanksgiving!