Directed By David Lowery

Starring – Alexander Molony, Ever Anderson, Jude Law

The Plot – Based on J. M. Barrie’s novel of the same name, the film is the timeless tale of a young girl named Wendy (Anderson) who, defying her parents’ wishes to attend boarding school, travels with her two younger brothers (Joshua Pickering, Jacobi Jupe) to the magical Neverland. There, she meets a boy (Molony) who refuses to grow up, a tiny fairy (Yara Shahidi) and an evil pirate captain (Law), and they soon find themselves on a thrilling and dangerous adventure far, far away from their family and the comforts of home.

Rated PG for violence, peril and thematic elements

Peter Pan & Wendy | Official Trailer | Disney+ – YouTube

POSITIVES

Unlike a majority of previous Disney live action adaptations, “Peter Pan & Wendy” isn’t a shot for shot remake of its animated property, instead cementing a few meticulously beneficial changes in the direction of the narrative that at the very least justifies the merit of its inception. In particular, the addition of Captain Hook’s backstory and ensuing friendship with Peter gives their relationship dynamic an element of role reversals that simultaneously fleshes out the heart and loss of humanity within Hook, while also outlining the insensitivity of Peter’s own resentment towards him for growing up, which serves as the reasoning for their eventual deterioration. There are other examples of creative diversity within the duration of the experience, but this one particularly helps to transcend the film from the one-dimensional outlines of good versus evil, in turn supplanting a rich and documented past between the dualing characters that enriches the magnitude of this storied rivalry. In addition to this, Lowery’s influence on the project supplants a gritty consistency to the rendering of Neverland and the ensuing presentation of the film that seamlessly transcribes the dark and fantastical flavors of fairytale story books, with a likeness that feels so richly mature from anything previously in the Pan cinematic universe. In particular, Lowery’s staging of the key conflicts in the story do carry with them an immensity in scale that helps to transcend the minimized price tag of the film’s budget, all the while supplanting these breathtaking backdrops involving naturalistic lighting that harvest a never-ending supply of spell-binding iconography for the boy who never grew up. As for the ensemble, Jude Law easily dominates the spectrum here, reaching enthusiastically for the dark depravity of the iconic villain, but also a three-dimensional pathos in underlining sadness that are calibrated exceptionally throughout the evolution of the character. Law seems to be investing the most to his portrayal, which translates to the kind of fun and energy that he invests to the character, and even if he was put in a better film all together, I still believe that he would be the best part of it, regardless. Lastly, the musical compositions here from Lowery’s longtime collaborator Daniel Hart orchestrate triumph and wonder in a film almost entirely absolved of it. This aspect often undercuts the magnitude of Hart’s work, but his efforts are never in vain, with instrumentals full of vibrancy and personality that cut at the heart of corresponding visuals, giving Hart another valued presence in the world’s that Lowery manufactures.

NEGATIVES

More often than not, the new creative decisions within the decorated ensemble and their usage is the cause for a lot of internal conflict within the development of the characters and their motivations, leaving this reeling from an air of commitment that creates some unforeseen obstacles that the script isn’t able to overcome. For the record, I have no problems with the cultural diversity in casting for some of the iconic personalities, just their opportunity for material given to them, with Peter Pan feeling like a supporting role to Wendy Darling in a film where he’s literally given top billing. This is further echoed by the monstrosity that is Tinkerbell, who isn’t given a single line of audible dialogue for the integrity of her character, in turn wasting away a possible movie stealing turn from Yara Shahidi, whose personality knows no limits on TV’s “Blackish”. Beyond the diminished returns of such meaningful characters, the film is also plagued by a complete lack of urgency or intrigue in the execution of its fight sequences, which feel staged in everything from slow choreography to lazy editing dwindling the air of momentum that grows conspicuous by its complete absence throughout the film. Another notable absence is in the confines of the movie’s pacing, with a repetitious formula or emotionally-flat exposition-heavy scenes stacking up like dirty dishes. Exposition is necessary towards any film, but when it isn’t followed by anything that utilizes that vital information, it stalls the execution towards a dull and plodding experience with nothing that ever gains on the sum of its parts, leading to a wasteful 105 minute run time that can’t even attain entertaining merit to its benefit. Finally, as to where Jude Law is on the right side of memorable returns, every child actor here lacks any kind of charisma or depth to their deliveries that keeps them from ever attaining believability or even notoriety to the air of their portrayals. The biggest offender of this is easily Molony’s Peter Pan, who with a complete lack of charisma to a character historically overflowing with it, fails to garner an effective on-screen presence, with a complete lack of chemistry shared with Anderson that often has him playing second fiddle. Speaking of Anderson, she is a lot better than Molony, but still feels plagued by such one-dimensional characterization that keeps her from expanding upon her capabilities, in turn condemning her towards phoning in a series of underwhelming emotional returns.

OVERALL
“Peter Pan & Wendy” isn’t just another by the numbers live action adaptation for Disney, but the baffling decisions with its characters and creativity condemn the occasion, with a lack of magic that directly overwhelms the occasion. Though Lowery does imbed a mature and realistic approach to the movie’s style, the lack of complexity within the character designs and their various adventures leaves the approach too grounded in familiarity, keeping Lowery and company from ever finding a momentum of their own to fly with the best Peter Pan adaptations of all time.

My Grade: 5/10 or D+