Plath noted, “Yep, like
the Buddies pics and the “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” films, this is one of
Disney’s money-making franchises. But that doesn’t mean they don’t put care
into the production. The all-CGI work is impressive, especially in Blu-ray, and
Disney has filled the cast list with some pretty high-profile voice talents:
like Anjelica Huston, Mae Whitman, Kristin Chenoweth, Raven-Symoné, Lucy Liu,
Jodi Benson, Timothy Dalton, and Jesse McCartney.”
How does the fourth
sequel released straight-to-video rank amongst the rest of the franchise?
Plath admitted, “Curiously,
here’s where my daughter and I differ.
My daughter thinks it’s one of the best because it has a better plot
than the other films; I think it’s inferior because of the plot.”
Plath continued, “Who’s
right? Well, I think we both might be. For little girls who are drawn to this
franchise, the plot strikes closer to home than previous entries.” The first
film introduced Tinker Bell as a character who was thought of as accident prone
by others and who felt like she was placed wrong until she found her talent in
the groups of Pixie Hollow. However, the theme of finding where you belong in
society is actually something older children reaching adulthood can identify with
more. On the other hand, the story of “Secret of the Wings” seems more targeted
towards little girls. It’s about sisters…BFFs.
Plath noted, ““Tinker
Bell” was an origin story, and as such it had to deal with scrutiny over
character inconsistencies—like, how can this winged little pixie be so giggly
and charming and happy, when Tink in “Peter Pan” was a jealous, conniving,
pouting candidate for anger management therapy?”
By this movie, Tinker
Bell’s personality has long been established for the franchise, along with her tendency
to jump at the first sight into new adventures. In “Secret of the Wings,”
Tinker Bell’s friends in Pixie Hollow has been assigned to send so many baskets
of supplies to the winter side of Pixie Hollow – a world that has a magical
line of segregation half-way along a fallen tree that has a river leading from
one are to the next. On one side it’s permanent spring and summer. On the other
side it’s winter. Plath advised, “Don’t think too much about it, parents, or
the fact that seasonal fairies were a part of Pixie Hollow in earlier films,
which had a Minister for every season.”
Tinker Bell, voiced by
Mae Whitman, wants to cross into the winter world, despite them being forbidden
because, for one thing, her wings would freeze and she couldn’t tolerate the
cold. That doesn’t stop her from making winter gear for herself that can also
protect her weak wings and hiding in a basket to be dropped by owls on the
winter side. What does she end up finding on the other side?
The first trip over she
simply gets frostbite on her wings and has to be taken to the fairy hospital,
then she goes to the Book Nook where she finds a book about wings that might
help her understand how to protect them. However, bookworms ate all the good
pages, and now more than ever she needs to cross over, because that’s where the
author called The Keeper, voiced by Jeff Bennett, apparently lives.
In her second crossing
she finds a relative fairy named Periwinkle, voiced by Lucy Hale, who looks
like her, has the very same wing pattern, and even loves to collect objects
that have been found. They find out that they are, in fact, sisters.
Plath advised, “Again,
parents, don’t think too hard about his one—or the fact that Disney at least
provided a logical explanation for separated-at-birth sisters’ films “The
Parent Trap” in 1961 and 1998.” Here, we simply get a simple explanation: a
baby’s first laugh somehow split in half, with one part going to the summer
side of Pixie Hollow and the other the cold.
When the ruler of the
Winter Woods, Lord Milori, voiced by Timothy Dalton, arrives, he demands to
send Tinker Bell back to the summer side. Now the story comes from the two
fairy sisters trying to figure out a way they can stay together. Tinker Bell
wants her sister to visit her on the summer side, so she gets the help of her
tinker fairy colleagues, who make a snow machine on wheels that can keep
Periwinkle cold. However, when the snowmaker runs out of ice is the beginning
of major issues for everyone in Pixie Hollow. Then, when Lord Milori says the
two sisters may never see each other again, do you really think this franchise
is going to let these two stay apart?
Plath admitted, “A pat
ending will give young girls the warm fuzzies and their parents raised
eyebrows. But hey, it’s a Tinker Bell Disney Fairies Movie aimed at little
girls ages 4 through 10. My daughter is at the high end of that range and she still
maintains it’s one of the best “Tinker Bell” films. Right now, her
extracurricular activities and her best friend are the most important things in
her life. HAVING a best friend is important at this age and younger, and so I
can see why the target audience would go for this film. Logically, though, it’s
Silly Putty—a real stretch, and an uncomplicated narrative that’s restricted to
a forward movement and impediments. There are no subplots, and nothing more
complex than that.”
Parents won’t enjoy
this one as much as the first “Tinker Bell,” but does that really matter all
that much?
Plath ended his review
by saying, “I’d probably give this entry a 5 or 6 out of 10, even considering
the target audience, but with my daughter collecting the films and pronouncing
this one “the best,” I have to warm my own wings a bit and award it a 7 out of
10. In my defense, even if parents may be stung by the narrative logic, “Secret
of the Wings” is still a wonderful sensory experience to share with your child.”
Personally, I believe
this is another good installment, as I find all of the films just as good. With
this one focusing on family, I think everyone will like it, especially at the
time of the year we’re in right now. If you have been watching the franchise
thus far, go on your Disney+ and watch this one. You will love the story of
finding family and finding out how to stay together so that you can get to know
one another.
We’re not close to
finishing this franchise, so stay tuned tomorrow for the next installment in “Disney
Month 2020.”
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