I have never loved the story of Dumbo. Something about a vulnerable baby being separated from his momma and then tormented has never sat well with me. I decided to see Tim Burton’s 2019 remake of Dumbo so I could spend time with my aunts, cousins, and my awesome grandma. They were all excited to see the movie and I was eager to spend time with them. I mean, I like Tim Burton, so I figured I would at least enjoy parts of the movie.

The story of Dumbo has many complex themes. On the surface, it is the story of an elephant with big ears who learns to fly with them. In the original, he is encouraged by a little mouse who shows him to believe in himself. In the remake, he is encouraged by a loving group of circus performers. Under the surface, though, this is a story about vulnerability and loss. Dumbo is made fun of from the time of his birth. His poor mom tries to stick up for her child and is immediately labeled dangerous. She is put in a cage and labeled “mad elephant” because she tried to keep her son safe. Then, she is sold and Dumbo is left behind, away from her. At the end of both the original and Tim Burton’s 2019 adaptation, Dumbo and his mother are reunited, albeit through different circumstances in each movie. Dumbo is subjected to different humiliations, such as being dressed as a clown, so onlookers may laugh at him. He is also deliberately scared with fire to encourage him to fly.

To me, this shows something troubling. We tell people to stick up for themselves and protect those they love. Dumbo’s mother does just that and receives swift, harsh repercussions that end up taking her out of the majority of the movie. Dumbo is left even more vulnerable than a baby already is. He is beat down even further by being put in scary or embarrassing situations. All of this is also very graphic. What is this teaching children? Your parents are there to protect you until a bad guy takes them away for protecting you. Then, bad things will happen to you in the absence of your parents. Also, let’s not forget that there are children who have seen their parents taken from them and put in a “cage.” This movie is problematic.

I personally don’t feel these themes and situations belong in a children’s movie. While the general theme is “unlikely disadvantaged hero powers through and succeeds,” the road to that success is paved with darkness and suffering. Dumbo is exploited, tricked, and terrified. He spends many scenes curled in a sort of fetal position while others try to comfort him. He seems to be experiencing depression on a very real level. I am not saying this type of movie doesn’t have its place, simply that it doesn’t have its place in the children’s film genre.

Maybe I didn’t like this film because it felt too real. I, like Dumbo, lost my mother and still have feelings of powerlessness surrounding that loss. These are things I am learning to trust God with, but it’s taking time. I saw this film through my own lens, which highlighted a lot of things others might not notice or be bothered by. At the end of the day, film is a complex medium and, like all story-telling media, relies partially on the audience’s own innate feelings. You may very well have a different opinion of this film. I would encourage you to look into the film further before deciding if it’s a good film for you.

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