I’ve never used this forum before for a movie review, but I just saw something that is a commentary on how we view parenting, vulnerable children and society.
In this movie, a man who allegedly loves his family (3 small children) decides to become a robber. This choice is somehow portrayed as “endearing” and the subtext is he loved them so much and wanted to buy them nice birthday gifts. What about getting a job?
Then his “MO” was to go through the roof of McDonald’s and kidnap the crew when they opened in the morning, locking them in the freezer. He robbed 45 McDonald’s according to the movie – can you imagine the terror and lifelong trauma of these victims, most of whom were probably young people? The film glosses over this and we continue to embrace this “lovable rogue” persona.
For me, the part that was most upsetting is when the criminal meets a single mother and romances her. We’re supposed to identify with the “love story” but he does not tell her anything that is true to promote his own selfish interest and the expense of her and her children.
Although he is overtly sketchy (he won’t answer directly when asked where he is from or what he does for work) she invites him into her home and allows him around her two daughters. Is this protective parenting? Again, no mention of this in the movie, where the single Mum is made into an almost heroic and certainly sympathetic character. The ONLY line in the movie that rang true is when the 16 year old girl assails the Mum for inviting this creep into their home and says “I hope the sex is worth it”.
To endear himself to this “rebellious teenager” the criminal is going to buy her a used car (with money obtained through stolen goods). The whole family goes for a test drive and a scene is played for laughs where he drives recklessly with the children in the car, including slamming on the brakes to a skidding 180 degree stop. Why do we minimize and even glorify the vulnerability of children and our responsibility as parents to protect them?
I walked out after that scene.
I know “it’s just a movie” but to me this normalizes, and glamorizes, some pretty disgusting themes in how we view society, responsibility to others and parenting.
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