Okay, so Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell- you know, the ultimate cool couple of Hollywood? Their love story is pretty much fairytale stuff. I mean, they’re funny, they’re real, they let us in on their lives without being all too much. But even fairytales apparently have their rough patches, at least according to their kids. And these kids? They’re not shy about calling out their parents, even over a movie from way back when.

Apparently, Lincoln (12) and Delta (10) recently tuned into their parents’ 2012 flick, Hit and Run, which, by the way, is now chilling on Netflix. And let’s just say it sparked some serious family drama. Not the kind you see on reality TV, but the very real, slightly awkward kind only your children can deliver. You’d think they’d be all swoony over seeing Mom and Dad all young and in love, right? Wrong.

Kids These Days: A Film Critic’s Harsh Reality

Dax and Kristen were on Jimmy Kimmel Live! – you know, doing the whole promotional circuit thing – and Dax spilled the beans about their daughters’ reactions. He basically said their kids usually couldn’t care less about what Mom and Dad do for a living. Which, honestly, is probably a good thing. Keeps them grounded, I guess. But Hit and Run? That was different. “Our kids rarely show interest in us. But they did want to see this movie we made, because we’re very much in love,” Shepard recounted. He also pointed out that when they filmed it, they were “childless and we had nothing to do but love each other.” Ah, simpler times, before the chaos of two tiny humans, you know?

The ‘In Love and Kinda Young’ Paradox

So, the girls watched it. And initially, they “loved it,” according to Dax. Why? Because they liked seeing their parents “in love and kinda young.” Sweet, right? Picture it – two little girls, probably snuggled up on the couch, seeing their parents on screen, all cool and adventurous. It’s gotta be a trip for them, seeing their folks in a whole different light, before bedtimes and homework took over. But here’s where it takes a hard left turn.

• Point: The movie portrays Kristen Bell’s character breaking up with Dax Shepard’s character.
• Insight: This fictional plot point caused a real-life uproar with their impressionable children.

The Great Fictional Breakup of 2007 – And Its Present-Day Consequences

Now, if you’ve seen the movie, or if you’re just paying attention to the context, you know there’s a part where Kristen’s character breaks up with Dax’s character. (Spoilers from 2012, sorry not sorry.) In the film, this happens in 2007. And let me tell you, Lincoln and Delta were not having it. They apparently took this fictional separation very, very seriously. Like, personally.

“Mommy, How Could You?!”

Dax revealed that their daughters were actually pretty angry at Kristen for this on-screen split. “My girls were like, ‘Mommy, you broke up with Daddy in 2007?!’ They were so pissed at her,” he explained. Can you even imagine? Your kids, who probably think you’re still a unified entity from birth, suddenly confronting you about a fictional breakup from before they were even a twinkle in your eye. It’s both hilarious and, I’m sure, a little bit trying for Kristen.

“My girls were like, ‘Mommy, you broke up with Daddy in 2007?!’ They were so pissed at her.” – Dax Shepard

It’s interesting, isn’t it, how kids perceive reality, especially when it comes to their parents? For most of us, if we see our parents in an old photo or something, it’s just “oh, look, they were young.” But to watch a movie where your mom dumps your dad? That’s a whole other level of confusion and, apparently, genuine outrage. They’re probably thinking, “Wait, what really happened? Was this before us? Is this why Dad sometimes gives Mom that look when she takes too long to get ready?” The gears are turning, folks. The gears are really turning.

The Blame Game: Who’s At Fault When Parents Act?

This whole thing just highlights how careful celebrity parents must be. Or perhaps how little control they have over their kids’ interpretations of their work. Because here you have Kristen Bell, a wonderful actress, playing a role, doing her job. And her kids are basically pulling her aside like, “What kind of example are you setting, Mom? Abandoning Daddy like that?” It’s a unique sort of workplace hazard, wouldn’t you say?

When Reel Life Becomes Real Life

I mean, think about it. For us, a movie is just a movie. We compartmentalize. But for kids, especially at those ages – 10 and 12- everything is still connected. Their world revolves around Mom and Dad, and if Mom did something “bad” to Dad, even in a movie, it can feel like a direct threat to their foundational understanding of family. It makes you wonder what other movies they’ve seen. Have they ever watched Kristen in Frozen and been confused why she’s not singing “Let It Go” all the time at home? Or Dax in Parenthood and wondered why he’s not hanging out with Zeek Braverman?

This little anecdote is just a delightful peek into the lives of celebrity families and, more broadly, into the minds of children. They take everything so literally, so seriously. And honestly, it’s kind of refreshing. It’s a good reminder that even the biggest stars are just Mom and Dad to their kids, and sometimes, Mom and Dad’s job can really complicate things at the dinner table. So next time you’re watching a flick with your kids, maybe pre-screen it for any potential spousal-disagreement-induced outrage. Just a thought. Because apparently, a fake breakup from 17 years ago can still sting.