Over the weekend, guinea pig activists (they exist!) raised our collective furry hackles by declaring Disney's latest animated offering, G-Force, to be the next 101 Dalmations. Like the puppy movie before it, they said G-Force (about a rogue band of world-saving guinea pigs) would be one of the cute and cuddly family films for which Disney is known. They predicted it'd be a smash-hit at the box-office, due in part to 3D ticket premiums. And they said it'd be funny, thanks to its comedian stars Will Arnett, Tracy Morgan and Zach Galifianakis.
Also, it would inspire millions of children to rush to adopt, then cast aside, America's guinea pig population. And their viewpoint is snowballing, as snagged the No. 1 spot at the box office this weekend. Per the Associated Press: "'I can tell you, every single rescue in the United States and abroad took a look at that movie trailer and said, 'Oh God, here we go,'' said Whitney Potsus, vice president of The Critter Connection, Inc., in Durham, Conn." And then the Contra Costa Times: "[A]
Now, there are reports that Disney will put "a statement will be posted on the movie's Web site and on other promotional materials, advising viewers to be responsible and research any pet ... [they] consider adopting from a shelter," the AP reports. (**Update: We checked in with our pals at Disney, who said there is now a responsible-pet-owner disclaimer appending every single page of the G-Force website. The official take: "Raising awareness for responsible pet ownership is important. When applicable, we stress in our materials that owning a pet is a major responsibility and requires daily care and constant attention. Before bringing a pet into your family, it is important to make sure it is suitable for your particular situation. Learn about and be willing to undertake the serious responsibilities of pet care. Always consider adoption from a reputable shelter or rescue program.")
At this point, do we stop and declare this the summer of the Anti-Movie Activist? It made world headlines when the Vatican finally deigned to rubber-stamp the sixth Harry Potter as just this side of Satanic (previous films were branded as having "subtle seductions" that could "deeply distort Christianity"). And in the same opening week as G-Force, there was major carping about Warner Brothers' horror flick Orphan, which adoption activists decried as giving orphans and adoption a bad name.
Except, it turns out that the evil Esther on the movie posters isn't really a helpless orphan (spoiler alert coming in the next sentence!). She's a whacked-out 33-year-old dwarf prostitute.
Spokesman for the Society of Middle-Aged Dwarf Prostitution: your move.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
