Mother Knows Best?

Criticizing Disney villains is a tightrope. On one hand, they’re the most entertaining parts of their respective films. On the other hand, they’re not immune to criticism, hence why Disney phased them out. This is especially true with Disney remaking their classic pantheon in live-action, resulting in lifeless slop. And then there’s Tangled, which has been in production limbo for several months, but has finally resumed development. I’ve covered my thoughts on the 2010 movie before, but it’s fascinating, and frustrating, that any discussion surrounding its antagonist ends with debate.

I’m not writing this to demean Disney movies or start unnecessary arguments. Both will happen anyway, but I like these villains. That said, while people pile on authors like JK Rowling for leaning in on overt stereotypes, the subtler ones remain unchallenged. And in some cases, like Mother Gothel, they’re defended by fans. We good? Moving on.

I should also mention that Mother Gothel being Antisemitic-coded, like other Disney villains, doesn’t mean she’s only that. Disney pulls from many sources, including drag. But that doesn’t mean the argument can’t be made. And in a time when Jews are being attacked (again) for being Jewish, it’s especially important to listen to us. Especially on topics not so obvious.

Let’s begin by rehashing how Gothel could be seen as Antisemitic: a crooked nose. Droopy, almost tired, eyes. Dark, curly hair that’s unkempt and slicked back. Less-refined complexion features, like pale skin. A desire to feed off of a younger, more innocent and European-looking woman. And a nagging, possessive relationship with the heroine.

I’m not the first to call this out, nor will I be the last. Gothel’s features, dating back to the original fairytale, are baked in Antisemitic tropes, as Jews were the dominant minority in Europe for centuries. They were thought of as deceivers out to distort European Christendom, and even after secularization this persisted. It’s also no surprise that Walt Disney, who didn’t think so fondly of any minority, would resort to these stereotypes even while championing innovation. Essentially, it’s hard to tell if Gothel’s deliberately Antisemitic, or simply based on Antisemitic choices from ages past.

I’ve never been the biggest fan of Gothel. She’s fun, and she has one of Tangled’s best songs/reprisals, but outside of creating a personal obstacle for Rapunzel she’s uninteresting. She lacks the showiness of Disney Renaissance antagonists, the pure evil of classic ones and even the connive that made Dr. Facilier work in The Princess and the Frog. For the most part, she’s a non-entity. It’s no surprise that Disney would move away from villains like her afterward.

Which brings me to the live-action remake of Tangled. When it was initially announced, I didn’t have high hopes. I’d only enjoyed three of the live-action remakes, and each of them either improved on or changed the material they were working with. The rest were so overly-faithful, yet simultaneously unfaithful, to their source material that they didn’t hook me with their trailers. (I don’t need a repeat of something I love, except less-inspired.) Tangled felt like more of the same.

For a while, this remake of a 15 year-old movie was on hold, thanks to the diminishing returns of recent remakes. But then came the success of Lilo & Stitch, showing that Disney’s live-action remakes could still be profitable. And now Tangled’s remake has a possible actress for Mother Gothel: Scarlett Johansson, a Jewish woman who’s been under fire for a variety of reasons in recent years. Oh dear.

I have no problem with Johansson as Gothel in theory. Like Gal Gadot as The Evil Queen, she has an opportunity to reclaim the Antisemitic coding of Gothel. And unlike Godot, she’s a decent actress. But while I’m happy that she gets to embody the character, I also have my share of reservations. Like The Evil Queen, I don’t think she can escape the baggage associated with Gothel, especially if Disney decides to be “forward-thinking” and casts a minority actress as Rapunzel. If it happened with Rachel Zegler in Snow White, it can happen again!

Honestly, I don’t see why Tangled needs Mother Gothel. Going by what I said before, Gothel was never a threat outside of a few scenes. And since Disney has made a point of moving away from conventional villains, opting for twist-villains instead, I don’t see why they can’t actually update the entire story for modern audiences. It’s what they did with Frozen, so why not here? Or is cashing in on nostalgia too important?

I actually wouldn’t mind, assuming they use Gothel, another twist-villain. I know people are sick of them, but it humanizes them in ways that “I AM EVIL, WATCH ME SCHEME!” can’t. While the latter can be fun, it’s also lazy. It limits what the baddie’s capable of, and it doesn’t give them much depth. That might be “the point”, but even when Hayao Miyazaki uses this trope, which isn’t often, he gives his villains human motivations. He’s also careful not to rely on stereotypical coding, instead letting their actions do the heavy lifting.

To be clear, I’m not saying you can’t enjoy Mother Gothel. For all my issues with her, she’s fun to watch! And it’s satisfying seeing her meet her end! But while I enjoy the evilness of Gothel, I also think Disney can do better. I especially think they can do better than using a Jewish actress for a Jewish-coded antagonist. You can disagree, but that’s my take.

Then again, I strongly doubt the remake will be good, so...