Peter Pan
Jason Isaacs, Jeremy Sumpter, Rachel Hurd-Wood; Directed by P.J. Hogan
By now, almost everyone is familiar with J.M. Barrie's classic about the boy who never grows up. When Wendy, John, and Michael Darling meet the titular hero, Peter, he invites them to come to his home in Neverland. Here they encounter beautiful fairies, treacherous pirates, and murderous mermaids. Peter and Wendy soon form a very close bond, but when she tries to make him confront his feelings, he becomes confused and frightened. When Wendy learns the troubling truth that it is not possible for Peter to love, she makes immediate plans to leave Neverland forever. The infamous Captain Hook has his own plans, however, and sets out to destroy his nemesis by using this unfortunate and crippling weakness against him.
This live-action tale trods far closer to J.M. Barrie’s original stage play than any other similar telling has done in recent years. Because so many people have grown up knowing only Disney’s cartoon interpretation, the themes and sequences presented in this adaptation may surprise people. Whereas the simplified and virtually innocuous Disney version was a lighthearted slapstick, director P.J. Hogan’s story is a dark and stirring adventure that never waters down its messages about innocence, and the eventual loss of that innocence that all children must eventually come to face. There is humor here, but it’s not silly, cartoonish fare, but rather a delightfully surprising dry wit that gives the account an enjoyable Monty Python-like twist. The cast never induces an overly saccharine tone (a remarkable feat for a film whose stars are mostly children), and Jason Isaacs fits into Hook’s role like a glove - a big, leathery, hook-shaped glove.
Because there is a strong premise of romantic themes, smaller children may not fully understand or appreciate the film. However there is plenty of eye candy to go around. The sets and cinematography are wonderful, and there is enough swordplay and flying action to hold the attention of your younger kiddie set. This is also a delight for anyone who has remained a captured fan by the story of Peter Pan. It is a heartening and inspiring legend done complete justice here, and will delight children of any and all ages.
Grading:
Story = A
Originality = A-
DVD Features = N/A
Acting = A-
Enjoyability = A
Visuals = A
Overall = A-
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