Disney Formula

Having a 9 year old, I watch more than my share of Disney stuff. Having just seen the Muppets Movie, I realized that this is the third Disney movie in a row that I’ve seen with the “protagonist loses but really wins” formula.

For the record:

Camp Rock 2: Movie ends with a performance contest between the two rival camps. Camp Rock loses the (rigged) competition, but back at their camp, dejected, they see tons of kids come over from the rival camp because they now prefer Camp Rock and the phones ring off the hook with people wanting to come to Camp Rock.

Lemonade Mouth: Movie ends with a performance contest, but the drummer breaks his fingers, bass player has the flu and lead singer laryngitis. While performing (horribly) the crowd and lead guitarist from rival band joins in to help them.

Muppets: To save their studio they need to raise $10 million. They have a telethon show, but fall short so bad guy gets the studio. But as they walk out of the theatre they are mobbed by adoring fans who of course break into song.

It’s effective, so I get why they use it. You have the drama of building up to a competition. Then you get the audience a bit sad because they didn’t win, when in movies like this the good guys always win. But then they really do win in the big picture sense so everyone leaves happy.

But c’mon, three times in a row?