Anyone who claims otherwise will be convinced by the recent rating ofMy Little Pony: The Movie. This latestMy Little Ponyfilm is the first part of the franchise to ever receive aPGrating, on account of “mild action”.
From the trailers and images available online, this isn’t a darker or grittier pony story. There were scenes of mild violence and peril in the 1986version ofMy Little Pony: The Movie, which earned a G rating because overall, it’s still a colorful pony story which won’t distress or harm the majority of children of any age.
In the past couple of years, the MPAA has become hypersensitive to what they allow in a G rating. The Boss Babyis rated PG because you see some babies’ butts and fake vomit.Finding Dory is rated PG because an octopus exclaims “Suck it!” at one point.Inside Outis rated PG for having sad moments (despite the overall message of the movie – that it’s okay to feel sad sometimes – being something that all ages need to hear), or possibly because of a joke alluding to bleeped out swearing.
Cars 3is the most recent G-rated animated film. I can’t imagine what happens in that movie, considering even an intense car chase scene could be considered “mild action” or “intensity” or some other ridiculous thing.
We are far past the times ofPlanet of the Apesbeing rated G, despite apes shooting men in the head, bare butts, and Charlton Heston exclaiming “God damn you all to hell!”. Hell, we’re past the times ofThe Lion Kingbeing rated G, considering the amount of the plot that revolves around death/killing. It’d definitely be a PG if the MPAA saw it for the first time today, on account of “mild thematic elements” or “mild action”.
Part of this weakening of the PG rating is what leads to parents being alarmed when they see a PG film likeCoralineorWe Bought a Zoo.These movies actually use their PG ratings, but there are parents who think they should be PG-13!
If there’s one thing you’ve gotta give the BBFC props for, it’s actually using their U rating for things other thanDora the Explorer, and recognizing that children don’t need parental guidance for the very mildest of threat or a burp/fart.
