Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (1999) is a nostalgic Disney classic. For those of you who’ve never seen it, or who last watched it on a VHS, the film is separated into three chunks, each with a different Christmas meaning.
The first two stories ended thoughtfully with classic Christmas messages spread throughout, but it’s Mickey’s story which took me by surprise. Before I unpack Mickey’s film, here is a quick summary of the first two:
Donald Duck: Stuck on Christmas
Story one is about Huey, Dewey and Louie and how they wish that Christmas could be everyday. In true Disney fashion, their wish comes true and sure enough, Christmas is yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever. The novelty soon wears off and, eventually, they discover that Christmas isn’t solely about receiving presents. It’s about family and being present. Time magically restores itself and that’s that. I’d rate the moral of the story a solid 4/5.
A Very Goofy Christmas
Story two follows Goofy’s son Max. Their neighbour Pete (the antagonist) puts a dampener on Max’s Christmas when he postulates that Santa couldn’t possibly exist. Naturally, this dulls Max’s Christmas spirit and his love of Santa. Goofy works tirelessly to keep Max’s Christmas spirit alive, to the point where he maxes out his own Christmas joy. In the end, Max realises he doesn’t need proof and that it’s more about belief, being with your family and spreading Christmas cheer to those less fortunate. I’d give it a 3.5/5 for moral of the story.
We have now arrived at the final story, which is Mickey and Minnie’s. Here we go:
Mickey and Minnie’s Gift of the Magi
Mickey and Minnie are working hard to make ends meet, Mickey selling Christmas trees and Minnie in Mortimer’s (a department store). Both Mickey and Minnie, in an effort to buy something for each other, are swindled out of their hard earned money, with Mickey’s boss Pete stealing his tips and Minnie’s Christmas bonus presented in the form of a fruit cake. That can’t be legal, can it??
Christmas is now up in the air.
Key thing to note here is Mickey’s harmonica. He takes it everywhere with him to get a bit of extra cash and he is incredibly talented. SO talented that the toy drive hire him on the fly to support the band and raise donations. Ok, so remember: Mickey LOVES his harmonica. It brings JOY to him and to others.
Before the day is up, Mickey rushes to the jewellery store to buy Minnie the necklace he has been eying up for her. Unfortunately, the owner closes up the shop.
When Mickey and Minnie reunite to exchange presents by the fire, Minnie gives Mickey a harmonica case. She reveals she exchanged the watch Mickey had bought her the year before in exchange for the case. Then, Mickey presents his gift: the necklace from the shop window. It turns out he won’t have any need for the harmonica case because he traded his harmonica in exchange for the necklace. The end. WHAT?!
*Stunned silence*
The pressure of Christmas time?
Let me collect my thoughts. So, what they’re saying is, is that you should do whatever it takes to buy your partner a present at Christmas time – even if it means giving up on the thing that brings you joy?
On reflection, does Mickey’s decision to trade in his harmonica show the pressure people feel at Christmas to have something tangible to give to someone? The fear of showing up empty handed. To one up last year’s presents. Perhaps. Even still, you shouldn’t have to sell your pet, your piano, your playstation or take out another deposit on your house just to impress your partner.
Mickey, you should never have traded in your harmonica. Minnie, you should never have traded in the watch Mickey bought you. That’s not what Christmas is truly about.
Moral of the story gets a 2/5 from me. It got me thinking, that’s for sure!
Let me know your thoughts on this ending! Or any other movies you would like me to review!
*All images belong to Disney
rebekah writes stuff. 
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