I watched Coraline in 3D over the weekend which is a wonderfully dark children’s story. I think all children’s stories should be dark and foreboding because childhood is filled with psychological dread and stories like Coraline help us cope when we’re young.

But that’s besides the point. I’m here to talk about Old Lady Nudity or as close to nude as you’re going to see in a 3D movie for kids. I was quite surprised to see it and my wife was a bit shocked even as she laughed next to me.

Miss Spink and Miss Forcible are two former stage starlets living in the old apartment below Coraline, the little girl heroine of the the movie. When you first meet the elderly women their figures are the most noticeable–especially Miss Forcible with large old lady breasts. This is nothing we would find out of the norm, there are plenty of buxom old ladies walking around–fully dressed.

However, there’s a scene in the movie when Coraline enters “the other world” and sees Miss Spink pop up nearly nude in a mermaid costume. That was enough to raise an eyebrow. Then Miss Forcible comes in from the right as she portrays the Venus de Milo and all that is covering her ample chest are some pasties. That was enough to raise the other eyebrow. For those who get off on that sort of thing it might have raised more than that.

Is someone saying “big deal.” It’s not a brief shot. It’s an extended and quite entertaining scene as they start to bounce around and find their way up to the flying trapeze where they shed their old lady skins in favor of their younger selves.

The gals behind the voices of the two characters are famous British icons Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. Dawn French is known for playing The Vicar of Dibley, a well-loved comedy series where she often commented on her huge bosom. Jennifer Saunders is known for playing Edina Monsoon, the second half of a pair of spoiled, whiny fame-seeking elites in a comedy series that parodied such personality types. Apparently that series will be remade for the US and I suspect it will fail.

With the insertion of this Old Lady Nude scene I suspected there would be the usual prude reaction from American Reviewers. Oddly enough, it wasn’t too bad. I found one or two, what I consider to be, mild reactions:

Miss Spink’s obese torso is shown in a midriff- and cleavage-revealing mermaid costume. Miss Forcible goes even further, appearing in nothing more than a bikini bottom and sequin pasties. Coraline shouts in a sort of astonished delight, “She’s practically naked!” (That was my thought as well, but delete the glee and insert disbelief and cringing.) –From Plugged In Online.

Focus on the Family’s Video Review of Coraline. I expected a bigger reaction here since this is Dobson’s outfit but the host seemed to focus more on how dark the story and characters were and only briefly touched upon the old lady nudity.

So maybe Americans are losing their prudish sensibilities and parents are more concerned about their kids having nightmares. I guess I can’t complain about that. Coraline is a wonderful film despite any concerns for Old Lady Exposure. Makes me wish I had seen it as a kid.

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