Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Blended Adoption Movie Review
Jim is a widowed father of three girls. Lauren is a divorced
mother of two boys. When a friend sets
them up on a blind date, it’s a disaster. Although Jim and Lauren eventually
offer each other some helpful advice, they still don’t like each other. Then,
they and their kids are surprised when they end up sharing a vacation to
Africa. Will they be able to get along?
How is this Relevant to Adoption?
Blended is a film about the merging of two families into
one. Like in foster care and adoption, the customs, expectations, roles,
strengths and weaknesses of two groups of people come together and require growth,
grace, and adjustments. Adoptees and children in foster care may also resonate
with the situation of having multiple people in the role of “father figure” or “mother
figure.” The film illustrates that family boundaries are sometimes fluid, and
can survive (and benefit from) change. At the same time, the film shows how
children mourn loss of deceased or unavailable parents, and how they struggle
to accept new parental figures (one child has drawn a picture of an elephant
stepping on her stepmother.)
Strong Points
This is a surprisingly uplifting, funny, and kindhearted
film. Jim and Lauren both love their children. They warmly embrace each other’s
children, and find fulfillment in their roles as parents.
One of Jim’s daughters uses an “empty chair” technique to
talk to and remember her deceased mother. Jim and Lauren both respect her need
to do this.
Jim tells his daughter that, before she died, his wife
encouraged him to remarry, saying that her heart was big enough to love Jim and
his future second wife.
The film shows that children have a wide range of feelings
as they struggle to accept new parental figures, and in doing so it normalizes
and even smiles at those feelings.
The film shows that, in new family situations, it can be
difficult for the parents to figureout what each of their roles are.
One character affirms, “It should be boring how reliable a
parent is.”
The film models that children are able to make room in their
hearts for an extra person.
Challenges
Lauren’s ex-husband seems to be both pushy and negligent. He
is not invested in his children. This could be difficult to see for kids who
have experienced similar neglect.
Weak Points
It’s an Adam Sandler movie so there are some immature and
insensitive jokes. Topics in this film that get briefly mocked are breast size,
lesbians, Greek last names, and special needs.
A tour guide sees a baby pig lying next to two lions. He
takes the opportunity to point out that there are blended families in nature.
Then, off camera, the lions eat the pig. The tour guide notes, “I may have
misinterpreted that situation,” but his tour group is mortified. The situation
is played for a quick laugh, but it also may connect with the fears that some
children may have, that their new parents are not trustworthy and will hurt
them.
Recommendation
I was surprised how much I laughed, and at how much I liked
Blended. I think that reaction was shared by other people in the screening as
well. While some of the content makes this film more suited to teenagers and
adults (and the point-of-view probably makes it mostly appealing to adults), it
is warm, happy, uplifting, hopeful, generally honest and positive. I’d suggest
this one as a date movie for the parents in your home.
Questions for
Discussion after the film
How are families formed? Is it God? Luck? Our own choices?
How is adoption like a blended family? How is it different?
Do you view adoption as the blending of parts of two
families, or as the assimilation of one person into a new family, with no
regard for their past?
Are your kids able to honestly express their feelings about their
experience being part of your family?
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