Hello Meltingpot Community,
If you’re like me, then you are in dire need of good family-friendly programming to get you through this lockdown lifestyle. Also, if you’re like me, which I assume you are because you’re reading my blog, you want your entertainment to come with some color and diversity.
Never fear, Meltingpot community. Here are some recent family-friendly multicultural movies and shows I’ve discovered that you can watch with or without your kids.
Trolls World Tour
Intended for a big screen debut, Trolls World Tour is available On Demand on a television near you. Babygirl – who is eight years old – is a huge Trolls fan and so I “rented” the film for the whole family to watch right when it came out. I am not really a Trolls fan (clearly I’m not the target demographic) but I hunkered down to watch and tried to make myself love these rainbow colored Smurfs who like to sing and dance to pop songs. After watching, I’m still not a Trolls fan, but I loved the message of this new movie. While it was definitely coated in glitter, this movie was all about diversity and inclusion, the dangers of being colorblind, and cultural appropriation. I kid you not, Trolls World Tour had some deep messages imbedded in the predictable, but multicultural storyline. Plus, the music was awesome. While I don’t think any adult will be transformed by watching this movie, I do think it could be a super useful teaching tool to spark conversations with children about what diversity and inclusion really means. Perfect for young kids and parents who like rainbow Smurfs.
One Day at a Time
Based on the 1970s show of the same title, One Day at a Time is my new favorite family sitcom. Hands down. Babygirl and I watch at least one episode a day. Honestly, some of the themes and language is inappropriate for an eight-year-old, but I can’t make myself care because #Corona. Also, because we watch together so I know what she’s consuming. The point is, One Day at a Time is a show about a multigenerational Cuban-American family that features two kids, a mom and a grandmother. It’s a classic sitcom with a laugh track and everything, but the show also deals with real life issues and current events. We’ve watched episodes about veterans dealing with PTSD, immigrant deportations, and teens dealing with their sexual identity. I’ve actually even cried a few times while watching, but mostly we laugh. And laugh some more.The divine Ms. Rita Moreno plays the grandmother on the show and she is hilarious. The rest of the cast is also amazing. I recommend tuning into One Day at a Time when you just want to laugh, learn a little bit about Cuban American culture and feel like part of a loving, colorful family. I’d say it’s perfect for tweens, teens and parents. And P.S. The first three seasons of the show are on Neflix. But then Netflix cancelled it (boo Netflix) and now Season 4 is available on PopTV.
Tad the Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas
Admittedly, this animated movie on Netflix isn’t exactly multicultural in that it stars two white cartoon characters and a mummy. But the original version of Tad the Lost Explorer was in Spanish and the storyline takes us from the United States to Spain and Turkey, so I say it counts. For fans of Indiana Jones and Dora the Explorer, this is a fun movie with fantastic animation and an adventurous spirit. I also loved the retelling of the King Midas myth that the story revolves around. I watched this with babygirl and el esposo and we all loved it. Bonus, because it’s on Netflix, you can watch it in the original Spanish to make it more Meltingpot! Good for all ages.
Like Water for Chocolate
Like Water for Chocolate is a classic and is now available on Netflix! Personally, I’m saving it for a rainy day when I can also make a fabulous meal after watching. In addition to being the most divine romantic movie ever, it also takes Mexican cuisine to orgasmic levels. Based on the novel by Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate tells an epic love story between one man and the woman he loves, but cannot have. I am going to make my teens watch it with me because I can. Perfect for teens and parents.
The Main Event
Babygirl and I haven’t watched this movie yet, but we’ve added it to our “watch list.” The Main Event is about a little boy who discovers a magic Lucha Libre wrestling mask that gives him super powers. The little boy happens to be Mixed Race with a Black mom and a white dad. Mom isn’t in the picture but his Black grandmother is. I’m not entirely clear on all of the family dynamics, but it’s great to see a multicultural cast in a film that’s not about race or tragedy. #MultiracialSuperheroes! Check out the trailer below. Perfect for tweens.
So, there you have it Meltingpot community. This is my current list of multicultural content to consume these days while waiting out #TheRona with my family. I do have other things I’m trying to watch when there aren’t any kids around, but I’ll share those items in a different post. Do you have any suggestions for family-friendly multicultural movies or shows I should be watching? Feel free to share them below in the comments!
Be Well.
Peace!
