Peter Pan & Wendy: Film Review
The Peter Pan story has been told time and time again and I’m sure the vast majority of people know the classic childhood tale very well. I let out a big sigh when Disney’s live-action remake was announced but I take it back because it’s actually rather good.
In case you’ve forgotten the story, here’s a quick refresher: The film begins when Peter Pan (Alexander Molony) enters the home of Wendy (Ever Anderson), John (Joshua Pickering) and Michael Darling (Jacobi Jupe) and whisk them off to Neverland, where they meet the Lost Boys (and now Girls) and fight the pirates led by Captain Hook (Jude Law).
The Peter Pan story is often told in a camp, lightweight, fantastical fashion. David Lowery‘s version is much more grounded in realism and feels more melancholic and pensive about the costs and benefits of growing up. Pan is much more thoughtful and introspective than we’re used to as well. But don’t worry, Lowery remains loyal to the original and doesn’t forget the magic. It’s still a fun adventure with flying boats, fairy dust and clever crocodiles, but it has an added emotional weight.
This is thanks to Lowery’s new backstory for Hook and Pan. According to this reimagined origin story, they were once best friends, with Hook as the first Lost Boy. Hook left Neverland as a child and returned as an adult and their feud began because Pan couldn’t accept that he had grown up. These characters have never been more human. This backstory makes the tension and resentment between them more realistic and gives their battles more dramatic stakes. Law was my favourite actor in the ensemble due to his bitter and ugly portrayal of the villain who is often played panto-style.
This version also makes leaps and bounds in terms of on-screen representation. The Lost Boys (and Girls) and the pirates are made up of a diverse crew, Pan is a boy of colour, and Yara Shahidi plays the first Black Tinker Bell. Shahidi does well conveying her emotions without speech. We cannot hear her voice and I struggled to read her lips but I generally understood what she needed to get across.
Peter Pan & Wendy is a surprisingly dark and realistic retelling of J. M. Barrie‘s classic story. I’m glad it’s not a straightforward remake of the well-trodden narrative but at the same time, there are more fun and lightweight adaptations out there.
On Disney+ now