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What would Jesus boycott? Or would he even bother? Last week, I asked readers their opinions about the boycott of the Walt Disney Company and its affiliates, which began in 1997, especially in light of the apparent resurgence of family-friendly, faith-oriented films coming from Disney's family of film studios.

A handful of responses suggested the boycott should continue. "Boycotting is a natural Christian response to those people and practices which do not glorify God," said Merrellee Moore, quoting 1 Thessalonians 5:22 ("Abstain from all appearance of evil") and Proverbs 4:27 ("remove thy foot from evil"). "How else are we to get it through their thick skulls?" asked Kim Cairns. "If more people would boycott we could change the entertainment industry."

An overwhelming majority of respondents, however, believed that boycotts don't ultimately win the target over—or even hurt the cause. "Our salt loses its flavor and our lights grow dim as we separate ourselves from the rest of the world," says Cory Goode, who calls the Disney boycott "ridiculous and shameful." Laura Adair agrees: "Any attempt to force non-Christians to act like Christians is unbiblical and ridiculous."

Derek Napoleon wrote in with a story about how his Southern Baptist congregation was asked to boycott a Borders bookstore, but refused. Instead, they discovered their local Borders regularly brings in local musicians and speakers. "So we took our Christian band and played Christian music. … We now have a good relationship with the store's PR rep. and have taken the gospel to Borders a few times now," Napoleon reports. "By openly picketing or boycotting, we become hostile in their eyes. Instead of opening doors for grace, we are slamming them shut, we make enemies instead of friends."

Disney isn't the only cultural bogeyman turning to more family-friendly films. Roberto Rodriguez, who made a name for himself with hyperviolent action movies like El Mariachi and Desperado and monster movies like The Faculty and From Dusk Till Dawn, has become an unlikely champion of family filmmaking with the success of last year's Spy Kids. Religious media critics are pleased with the return of siblings Carmen and Juni Cortez in Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams, but a few voice disappointments.

Steven D. Greydanus (Decent Films) writes, "Spy Kids 2 has the imagination and energy of the earlier film, but not, alas, the heart, or the wit. The creatures are wackier than ever, the gadgets even more over-the-top. But the theme of family togetherness takes a back seat to inter-family rivalry and workplace ambition, and the slapdash story includes whole subplots … that have no explanation or even plot relevance." Michael Elliott (Movie Parables) offers similar complaints: "The freshness is gone and the sibling rivalry that was so amusing in the original is almost nonexistent here."

Holly McClure (Crosswalk) disagrees: "This movie is a safe bet to please both kids and parents, and it has some redeeming family values to talk about afterward. I like that the family unit is reinforced (especially with the grandparents) and no one gets seriously hurt or injured. It's people like Rodriguez who are changing Hollywood for the better." Bob Smithouser (Focus on the Family), Lisa Rice and Ted Baehr (Movieguide), Paul Bicking (Preview), Phil Boatwright (Movie Reporter) Anne Navarro (Catholic News), and Dick Staub offer similar recommendations "for youngsters and grown-ups alike."

Mainstream critics generally praised the film for being solid family entertainment. Few were enthusiastic. Mary Ann Johanson (Flick Filosopher) says, "It's bigger, it's dumber, it's more obvious, it's less fun. It's a sequel. There are worse ways to spend 90 minutes."

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August (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46