Follow TV Tropes

Following

Heartwarming / The Willoughbys

Go To

  • Tim putting his pride aside and asking his parents for food for his siblings. It backfires due to Jane and the Barnabys taking matters into their own hands but still, he tried.
  • Jane's love for the orphan baby.
  • Jane insisting on naming the orphan baby. Despite his reservations, Tim names the baby Ruth.
  • As Nanny and the Willoughbys discover, Commander Melanoff quickly bonded with Ruth.
  • Nanny bonding with Jane over their love of singing.
  • Nanny calling the Barnabys A and B. It doubles as a funny moment, but the fact that Nanny actually decides to tell them apart is the first sign that she actually cares about the children.
  • Tim sharing a chocolate bar with Nanny.
    • Worth noting that Tim's parents barely give their children food, and Tim was against Nanny from the beginning - yet here he shares a candy bar, probably the first gift or treat he has ever gotten from a grownup, with her. It's adorable.
  • Every time the Cat helps the children.
  • Nanny texting Mr. Willoughby that she will take care of the children.
  • While Orphans Services come off as the bad guys there's a few lines that imply they do care about children, just more in the keeping them safe, well-fed, and healthy departments. The Headwoman mentions it was good to see Nanny taking action, almost proudly, as while a throwaway line that they serve oatmeal since its healthy and very hard to choke on. The foster homes the children are sent to are described as "well-meaning". None of the homes are the typical bad depiction seen in media.
    • If you really think about it the homes the kids are sent too are emotionally neglectful, but they do watch the known interests of the kids. The Barnabys like tinkering and technology is close to that, and they were the only siblings allowed to stay together. Jane also likes singing which relates to music. Tim's the only one with sadly, not outlying interests. And he's sent to "Well meaning"- parents. Who knows what Orphan services intended of, but its clear they care.
    • One of Jane’s hippie foster family members ask her if she’s okay when she was quiet in her room with a sad look on her face. Showing that they do care about her well being.
      • On top of that, said family lets Jane go with Nanny and her brothers when they come to get her. When asked by an Orphan Services agent if they’ve seen the missing children, the mother’s response is “Why, they’ve been found, mister!”
  • Nanny breaking into the Orphan Services Detention Center and rescuing Tim.
    • She also helps him out of his pity party.
  • Ruth in her snowsuit.
  • The Cat's strong dislike for the parents is primarily because of how they treat the children.
  • A small moment, but Jane falling asleep on Tim during the siblings’ journey to Switzerland. Despite their Sibling Rivalry throughout the movie, the fact that Tim lets her do that shows how much he truly loves his family. Even more heartwarming in hindsight given that they’d been separated up until recently.
  • Jane's song at the end. Just after their selfish parents abandon them to their deaths, all hope seems lost. Then, Jane sings her feelings over how she just needs her brothers to be a family.
  • Nanny, The Commander and Ruth saving Jane, Tim and the Barnabys.
    • Nanny and The Commander saying they heard Jane's song, and it was beautiful. It's clear from her reaction that's the first time anyone's said something that nice about her songs.
  • The Willoughby children and Ruth being adopted by Nanny and Melanoff in the finale.
  • Ruth's first word is 'Willoughby'.
  • In the end, The Cat gets adopted by the Willoughbys' new family too.
  • The credits are an adorable display of arts and crafts that depict the Willoughbys, Nanny, Ruth and Melanoff doing things from going camping and watching movies together, as well as show us adoption papers and Tim's report card from school, making it perfectly clear that the Willoughby children are finally going to have a full, loving childhood.
    • There's also marks on the doorway marking height with names. We see everyone's name get taller and during one of the last entries Tim is going by Timothy. Implying some age is going by in a loving home.

Top