Ever, Ever After

Driving to Kathy's parents' house for our weekly Sunday dinner, we were listening to the soundtrack for Enchanted. After hearing Carrie Underwood's "Ever, Ever After," Kathy asked me if I thought there'd be a sequel to the movie. I told her that I hoped not. My feeling is that when they say or imply at the end of the movie that "they all lived happily ever after" that it should mean that they didn't experience additional drama or conflict that would warrant a sequel.

I don't necessarily hate sequels. I enjoyed National Treasure: Book of Secrets nearly as much as the original and will probably go see the third movie in the series, which was very much hinted at in the current film. I'm looking forward to seeing another Indiana Jones film next summer. And I loved the continuing saga spelled out in the Star Wars trilogy.

But I really seem to dislike some of the sequels that Disney has produced in recent years, especially to many of their animated films. The company is promoting the re-release of the direct-to-video sequel of Cinderella right now. This is one release that is exactly the type of anti-ever after attitude that bugs me.

Was Fox and the Hound so loved that it necessitated a sequel? What prompted the need for 101 Dalmatians II? Aladdin II & III? Atlantis: Milo's Return? Bambi II? Brother Bear 2? Cinderella II & III? The Hunchback Of Notre Dame II? The Jungle Book 2? Lady And The Tramp II? The Lion King 1 1/2 & 2? The Little Mermaid II? Pocahontas II? Return To Never Land? Stitch! The Movie, Lilo & Stitch 2 & Leroy & Stitch? Tarzan II? Even Toy Story 2?

Marketing always played up these sequels as a way to provide viewers (read: children) a chance to reconnect with their favorite characters in brand new adventures. And while I don't doubt that there are enough "viewers" who would fall into that category to have these releases become quite financially popular, many of these same "viewers" also simply ask to have the original movie replayed a thousand times.

I feel that many of these direct-to-video sequels really do harm the Disney brand with their inherent cheapness -- weak story, bad animation, sub par songs, etc. Though Toy Story 2 might have been one that was good enough to warrant being booked in the theaters, I'm not necessarily thrilled about the prospect of a theatrical Toy Story 3 or Monsters, Inc. 2 or Finding Nemo 2 that I've heard rumored.

I'm glad to know that John Lasseter asked Disney CEO Bob Iger to stop making these cheapquels when he took over the reigns of Feature Animation and that Iger agreed, but I have to admit that I was rather surprised to know that Cinderella II is getting a re-issue anyway -- and as a "Special Edition." And that a slate of Pixar movies still have planned sequels -- though as non-Fairy Tales, perhaps that's not as egregious.

But just let me have my ever after. Let me think that the characters who had to overcome whatever obstacles to get to the original endings truly did live that happy, uncomplicated life. I really don't want to know that there's some new danger in Andalasia that's going to require Giselle and Robert to hop down a manhole to return and right whatever wrong needs fixing. Let me believe that there is an end to the story and let me enjoy having gotten there. As Walt Disney said once in reference to sequels, "You can't top pigs with pigs."

Matt