‘Peter Pan & Wendy’ Review (Disney+)
Stars: Ever Anderson, Joshua Pickering, Jacobi Jupe, Alexander Molony, Noah Matthews Matofsky, Alyssa Wapanatâhk, Jude Law | Written by David Lowery, Toby Halbrooks | Directed by David Lowery
Peter Pan has seen as many adaptations as anyone, they come around every few decades, and every now and again one sticks with a generation for a lifetime. The 1953 Disney original certainly had that, as too did 1991s Hook, the film that stuck with me and my generation. Since then the only other adaption that has stuck was the 2003 adaption. The 2003 adaption was another good entry into the legend of Peter Pan, and like the films before, it hooked onto a generation that still love that film today. When a Peter Pan adaptation is done even half right, it finds itself stuck to a generation, it is perhaps a testament to the story J.M. Barrie created that so many different adaptions and takes can connect to so many, for so long. The latest adaption joins the films before it, and is perhaps the best adaption of the story so far, one that a new generation can hold onto.
Disney has no shortage of films to turn into live-action and so far they have not been great. In fact, many have been pretty terrible. They’ve lacked vision, artistry, passion and love. It’s surprising then that the first adaption they have managed to get right has landed itself on the streaming platform rather than a wide theatrical release. It’s a real shame as this would no doubt be the perfect film for families to see on the Bank Holiday weekend and perhaps the best family film we will get all year.
Peter Pan & Wendy is directed by David Lowery, the same man who directed the only other good live-action Disney film of the last few years, 2016s Pete’s Dragon. He also directed The Green Knight, perhaps not the best film to compare to a children’s film, yet somehow shares many similarities. Opting for real locations while shooting, David Lowery takes Newfoundland Canada and turns it into his Neverland. The location adds a tactile feel to the world, a sense that Neverland really isn’t that far away and any child can run away their, with all their imagination intact. Neverland still feels magical and we still get to see everything you’d expect, there are mermaids, pirates, and one big crocodile in a terrific cave sequence that captures the swashbuckling adventure wonderfully.
This adaption is the closest we’ve had to the source material since the 1953 Disney classic. It follows Wendy (Ever Anderson) and her two brothers John (Joshua Pickering), and Michael (Jacobi Jupe) who get whisked away to Neverland by their storybook hero Peter Pan (Alexander Molony). Although Peter Pan may appear first in the title it really is Ever Anderson as Wendy who leads the film and is the best version of the character we’ve ever seen. She offers up the maturity and childlike nature of Wendy, the girl who is stuck between growing up and wanting to still be a child. She captures the conflict perfectly and will no doubt be a huge star in all her future endeavours. The story has all the classic characters, there’s a wide rang of Lost Boys (and girls) to love. Including Noah Matthews Matofsky who’s the true stand-out of the gang. The film is full of break-out stars and Alyssa Wapanatâhk as Tiger Lily is another to keep an eye on. Her character gets more to do than ever before, acting as a wise mentor and leader, she shows wisdom beyond her years and helps bring depth to a character that often gets pushed to the side. The whole cast does a fantastic job at giving these characters more to do and more to say, none more so than Captain Hook (Jude Law). Jude Law manages to bring the fearsome pirate to life with a real sense of villainy, but also a side to Captain Hook we’ve never seen before, letting us connect to the character for the first time. We finally get to see more dimensions to the infamous pirate than just the villain set out to kill Peter Pan.
The entire film works perfectly as a children’s fantasy. It starts off with a sense of wonder and excitement, one that allows the imagination to plunge deep into new worlds, the sense Peter Pan has always given to children. That sense is of bright adventurous worlds out there beyond our reach, but ones that with enough happy thoughts, we can get to. When we do get to that world the film manages to pull off the swashbuckling adventure and action that kids will no doubt love. When the swords are put down the film then has the most to say on its message and theme, more than any previous Peter Pan film has done. The story has always been about growing up, and David Lowery has managed to make a film that highlights that controlling idea better than ever before. It not only asks us about growing up, but if that truly is the ultimate adventure, about the fears we face and must confront when growing up, how much joy can come from growing up, and how for so many growing up may truly be the greatest adventure of all.
Peter Pan & Wendy may not just be the best adaption of the classic story with more to say than ever before, but it may be the best family film of the year. It will no doubt hook onto those who do see it for a lifetime.
