| Overall Grade: |
B |
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| Story: |
C+ |
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|
| Acting: |
B |
|
|
| Direction: |
B- |
|
|
| Visuals: |
B+ |
|
|
Peter Pan: Enough
by Brando (movies profile)
Mar 25, 2006
102
of
161 people found this review helpful
Peter Pan
Produced with imagination and creativity, PJ Hogan's film of the classic JM Barrie tale is perhaps the most engaging and meaningful version we've seen yet. It not only vividly captures the wonder and fantasy, but it also mines the story for thematic riches. Wendy Darling (Hurd-Wood) is a precocious preteen in Victorian London who entertains her little brothers (Newell and Popplewell) with fantastic tales of distant lands. She's under pressure from her parents (Isaacs and Williams) and a mad aunt (Redgrave) to grow up and stop being so childish, but she resists until her fantasy world invades her life in the form of the flying boy Peter Pan (Sumpter) and his grumpy fairy companion Tink (Sagnier). Soon Wendy and her brothers are flying to Neverland, where they happily fall in with the rambunctious Lost Boys, who like Peter refuse to grow up. But Peter's nemesis Captain Hook (Isaacs again) and his quite literally scurvy mates are out to get them.
Aimed squarely at the child within, the film reaches inside us, grabs hold and never lets go (Spielberg tried--and failed--to do this with Hook). Along the way, the clever script combines humour that's both sophisticated and silly with drama and adventure that's surprisingly strong and emotional. The production design is remarkable as well, hilariously capturing the extremes of Victoriana and the outlandish otherworldliness of Neverland without trying to be realistic or gritty. Those things are left to the characters, and the actors all manage shade the colourful excesses with raw authenticity. Isaacs is terrific in both roles--pinched and nervous in "real" life and brutally camp as Hook. Williams is absolutely lovely in a textured and often silent performance, while Redgrave is an absolute hoot as the overdramatic auntie. She and the sardonic Briers (as Hook's, erm, right-hand man Smee) get all the biggest laughs. Meanwhile, the children strike exactly the right notes, and Sagnier delivers a terrific silent movie-type turn as the tetchy Tink.
It's also wonderful to see that in a film full of spectacular effects and ingenious touches (a fabulous dog-nanny, creepy mermaids, a dazzling fairy dance), the filmmakers didn't scrimp on the story or themes. Hogan takes a gentle but well-aimed swipe at the British stiff upper lip, as well as misguided Western notions of independence, progress and maturity. He astonishes us visually, reminding us that this is a storybook fantasy while still sweeping us right into it. He touches on more universal ideas of responsibility, jealousy and revenge without pulling any punches, then constantly undercuts sentimentality, letting us feel the emotion without wallowing in it. And he also packs in several layers of meaning that will touch children of all ages. Whether they want to grow up or not.
I liked Peter Pan, but we already saw this character in many movies. Enough.
Overall grade: B - 85.5%. |
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