Director: David Lowery
Writer: David Lowery, Toby Halbrooks
Stars: Jude Law, Alexander Molony, Ever Anderson
Synopsis: Wendy Darling, a young girl looking to avoid boarding school, meets Peter Pan, a boy who refuses to grow up. Wendy, her brothers, and Tinker Bell travel with Peter to the magical world of Neverland, where she encounters an evil pirate captain.
I grew up with Disney’s animated film Peter Pan (1953), but it was never one of my personal favorites. Over the years, I never felt like revisiting this adaptation, so the live-action remake actually comes out at a good time. However, there have been so many movies already based on the original play, Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up, and the book, Peter and Wendy, by J. M. Barrie, that a new version of one of the world’s best-known tales isn’t exactly an easy task. Titled Peter Pan & Wendy this time, David Lowery (The Green Knight) brings us his vision of a project that the filmmaker considers a personal passion.
I feel that these Disney remakes always need some sort of preface, as there are always controversies surrounding them. Peter Pan & Wendy generated the usual discussions, raised by vocal minorities who don’t accept any kind of change, as they believe that everything is part of some conspiratorial modern agenda. If the complaints about the title including the name of the female protagonist simply demonstrate the ignorance of such people – who were unaware of the fact that the original book had a pretty identical title – the debate about gender and/or race swapping of characters is more heated and complicated.
It’s increasingly difficult to distinguish between those who genuinely intend to defend the original work and those who share too many complexions with life to accept anything outside of the so-called “normal”. Personally, I have always looked at this topic in the same way: if the character is fictional, I don’t see any problems with changing any physical characteristic, unless that attribute is essential to the narrative – case of Pocahontas, whose origins are inherently linked to the story and its central themes.
On the other side, there are situations like those of Ariel or Tinker Bell, the latter being a fairy played in Peter Pan & Wendy by Yara Shahidi (My Father’s Dragon), a Black actress who, expectedly, sounded the alarms in the basements of those who get crazy about this type of casting. I remember Tinker Ball being an extremely expressive, amusing character, largely due to the fact that she couldn’t speak, something that Shahidi perfectly embodies. Skin color in no way influences her arc or how other characters relate to her, besides we’re not even talking about a human being.
I began this piece with these topics, as one of the biggest compliments I have to offer Peter Pan & Wendy is precisely the exemplary manner in which it uses the diversity and inclusion of its cast. The small changes made to the world-building preserve the essence of the original tale, modifying only aspects that Barrie himself never explained, making room for necessary changes regarding outdated stereotypes and behaviors. This adaptation is much broader, and any child will be able to see themselves on the big screen – including the first-ever actor with Down syndrome in a film from the studio.
The main themes and messages remain intact throughout the entire runtime. Peter Pan & Wendy tackles all the expected plot points about the complications and fears of growing up and leaving childhood behind without ever deviating from what other adaptations have done in the past. A tad too familiar, as I anticipated more narrative variations. Some darker approaches are definitely interesting, but the lack of color doesn’t always sit well, giving the occasional feeling of not belonging to the respective world.
Daniel Hart’s (A Ghost Story) score stands out from the other technical components, elevating the several adventure set pieces and transforming Neverland into a truly magical world. Lowery’s visuals bring a real sense of awe and wonder, and any scene with the floating boat is capable of impressing any spectator, even at home. Honestly, I consider Peter Pan & Wendy to be one of Disney’s most stunning live-action remakes to date. Aside from some CGI improvements on some of Tinker Bell’s close-ups, I don’t have any notes.
Ever Anderson (Black Widow) and Jude Law (Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore) deliver the best performances of the movie, portraying Wendy and Captain Hook, respectively. The actress perfectly embodies the characteristics of an adventurous, virtuous older sister, working as a role model for the younger kids. The actor clearly demonstrates that he’s having fun with the typical mustache-twirling villain, bringing a certain charm to a character who has a compelling past and motivations beyond the most common cliches. The rest of the cast is decent enough, but one has to tolerate a few inconsistent exclamations and ADR that lack genuine emotion – remember that the vast majority of the actors are mere children.
The iconic songs are featured in Peter Pan & Wendy, so fans of the original adaptation won’t be disappointed. As always, the expectations of each viewer will significantly influence their opinion of the film. I believe Lowery manages to please both the audience that wants a copy-paste version without any relevant narrative changes and the viewers that prefer something totally different. The balance and care for the story are possible to observe with each passing second.
