This is the second installment in the author’s series of opinion pieces. In each installment, the author will go over recently released or classic Disney television shows or films and give her thoughts about them.
SPOILER WARNING: This post contains spoilers for the Disney television special Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice (2011). Please refrain from reading this post if you do not want elements of the special (plot, themes, etc.) to be spoiled for you.
Even though Christmas Day has come and gone this year, the Christmas spirit remains alive in Disney’s television special Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice (2011). The final short film special in a series of three (...yes there were three of these produced), it follows Wayne and Lanny, two of Santa’s top elves, as they work together to save Christmas after a child has stolen a piece of elf equipment to remove herself from the naughty list. Instructed by the Big Man himself to work with the Coal Elf Brigade, elves that work directly with naughty children, Wayne is forced to work together with his estranged brother Noel. As they carry out their mission, the brothers learn more about their relationship and in true Christmas spirit, realize the importance of family.
The trailer for Prep & Landing: Naughty Vs. Nice. The short film was released during the 2011 holiday season on ABC.
Source: YouTube.com
As with most of those who will read this post, I too completely forgot about these specials until I was scrolling through the recommended page of my family’s Disney+ account to figure out what I wanted to write my next post on. Now don’t get me wrong, I remembered watching these specials when they first aired, but it was one of those films that wasn’t as memorable for me. Rewatching the film now as a college student, I can see the special’s appeal to younger audiences. The plot is rather simplistic and to be quite honest very predictable, but what stands out to me even after all this time is how heavily integrated the overall message is. Family strife is something anyone, young or old, can relate to because there is no such thing as a perfect family. Everyone makes mistakes, gets into quarrels, and has falling outs but what is important to remember is that family is the most important thing anyone can have in life. Whether created through blood or through bonds, family is what gets us through the difficult times in life.
Brothers Wayne and Noel learn the true meaning of what it means to be family in this special
source: imdb.com
“There’s no better gift than family, is there?”
This is what Wayne and Grace–formerly known as JINGLESMELL1337—learn throughout the course of the special. Both struggle with adjusting to having to share the spotlight (so to say) with their sibling, which is a very humanizing moment as nearly anyone can relate to it. Easily the pinnacle moment of the special, we find out that the two feel insecure at the ‘success’ of their young brothers and the tension within each pair sprouts.
In a manner a la Batman and Robin (*coughs* look at painting *coughs*), a young Wayne and Noel play superhero
Source: imdb.com
Overall, the special definitely rings true to the spirit of Christmas. While the plot might be predictable to the tune of any Christmas movie, its focus on family is what sells the special to its younger audience. You might not always get along with family, but Christmas is all about celebrating another year with the ones you love most.
Author Bio
Felicity Girty is an English major with a double minor in Cognitive Science and Film, Television, and Digital Media and is the club’s Head Blog Writer. She is addicted to all things Disney and has an enormous passion for literature and entertainment. If not reading or immersed in pop culture, you can find her listening to literally any kind of music. Felicity hopes to work her way into the entertainment industry as a producer/showrunner, starting out in development. She is also involved in UCLA Project SPELL.