Jumping the Shark - Disney Division

I came home last evening to discover the Llama-ettes engrossed in Cinderella III - A Twist in Time, the second direct-to-video Cinderella release (yes, we have the first one as well).

Apparently in this one, the evil stepmother somehow gets hold of the fairy godmother's wand and goes back in time to the night of the fatefull ball. There, she does something or other in order to enable one of her own daughters to put on the glass slipper and win the prince's hand. This act alters history, strips Cinderella of her rightful destiny and....oh, I don't know what else because I didn't pay any attention.

A quick check reveals that Disney has done a number of direct-to-video sequels of other famous movies, including Aladdin and The Little Mermaid. Apparently, they've got another one based on Sleeping Beauty teed up for this fall as well. So far, however, Cinderella seems to be leading the field in terms of follow-ons. There's no good reason to suppose that Disney won't keep doing this as long as it sells. Bibbity-bobbity-ka-ching!

Perhaps in Cinderella IV it will be revealed that the evil stepmother is Cinderella's real mother and that the fairy godmother has been lying to her all this time in order to protect her. Then in Cinderella V, the mice will be tasked with taking the glass slipper to the fiery mountain near Prince Charming's castle, there to destroy it and rid the land of darkness forever.