The Hollywood Reporter Runs a Bizarre Pervy Review of Dora and the Lost City of Gold

There are certain things we expect from a film review about a kids’ movie like Paramount’s upcoming Dora and the Lost City of Gold. We expect to learn about the quality of the acting, or the special effects, or how the film compares to other movies of its ilk. What we don’t need is a lament over the lack of sexualization of the film’s protagonists because, you know, it’s a film for children.

But that’s exactly what readers got with The Hollywood Reporter’s new tone deaf and frankly pervy review of the film. Reviewer Todd McCarthy (who is nearly 70 years old and perhaps not the target audience for this movie) took the big screen adaptation of Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer to task for ignoring the sexuality of its teen stars:

McCarthy, who summed up the film as “a story about hormonal teens aimed at little kids”, wrote the following:

“What keeps things alive, up to a point, is the imperturbable attitude of the titular heroine, who is invested with try-and-stop-me spirit by Moner, who’s actually 18 and looks it despite preventive measures. The same goes for Wahlberg, who’s 19. There’s a palpable gap you can’t help but notice between the essentially innocent, borderline-pubescent nature of the leading characters and the film itself, and the more confident and mature vibes emanating from the leading actors. The director seems to be trying to keep the hormones at bay, but there are some things you just can’t disguise, perhaps human nature first and foremost. Dora seems committed to projecting a pre-sexualized version of youth, while throbbing unacknowledged beneath the surface is something a bit more real, its presence rigorously ignored. To be believed, this story should have been set in 1955.”

Dude, this isn’t an episode of Euphoria. It’s a PG rated film for children. But that hasn’t stopped male critics and whiny men online from bellowing “but what about MY boner?!” to anyone who will listen. It seems that white men, to whom 99 percent of entertainment is catered to, cannot handle it when something isn’t made expressly for them.

It’s the same misplaced sense of outrage men felt when they no longer wanted to bone She-Ra in Netflix’s redesign of the character. How dare content made for children not titillate or cater to their pervy fantasies?

Folks on Twitter were quick to question the motives behind the review:

McCarthy’s criticism and word choice is especially troubling, since the phrase “throbbing unacknowledged beneath the surface” has no business being in a review about a live-action Dora the Explorer movie. Would he prefer a younger pre-adolescent cast or a hornier version of this movie? Also, Dora is hardly the first kids film to feature older actors playing teens. It’s practically a Hollywood staple at this point.

McCarthy repeatedly misses the point of the film, calling it “sanitized and thoroughly rinsed” as well as “squeaky clean and unhip to an unusual degree” which again, what was he expecting from a PG film? A dark and gritty reboot of Dora the Explorer? Release the Snyder cut where Dora punches Swiper into a Manhattan skyscraper and starts a violent prison riot, you cowards!

Did he think Boots the monkey would get involved in a sexting scandal? Or that Dora’s talking backpack would be turning tricks on the street to fund their crippling heroin addiction? I’m sorry, but these are ridiculous criticisms to level at a movie for CHILDREN.

When we talk about diversity amongst film critics, this is precisely what we mean. No more of this yikes-worthy commentary from crusty old white dudes upset that Dora the Explorer isn’t fuckable. Do better, Hollywood Reporter.

(via The Hollywood Reporter, image: Vince Valitutti/Paramount Pictures)

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Chelsea Steiner

Chelsea was born and raised in New Orleans, which explains her affinity for cheesy grits and Britney Spears. An pop culture journalist since 2012, her work has appeared on Autostraddle, AfterEllen, and more. Her beats include queer popular culture, film, television, republican clownery, and the unwavering belief that 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' is the greatest movie ever made. She currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, with her husband, 2 sons, and one poorly behaved rescue dog. She is a former roller derby girl and a black belt in Judo, so she is not to be trifled with. She loves the word “Jewess” and wishes more people used it to describe her.

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