The live-action version of a classic Disney cartoon feature, "Peter Pan &
Wendy," takes us on a nostalgic trip down memory lane with its familiar,
well-loved characters and settings. Director David Lowery does not push against
this nostalgia but offers a faithful re-creation of the cartoon feature.
Wendy Darling and her two younger brothers, John and Michael, find themselves
whisked away by Peter Pan to Neverland, where they encounter the Lost Boys and
the Native American princess Tiger Lily. Jude Law gives a neurotic and comic
performance as Captain Hook, who is made more pitiable than loathsome by his
relatable backstory.
The movie has a whiff of missed
opportunity as it fails to subvert or reinvent the cartoon classic in the way
that Lowery's previous movie "Pete's Dragon" did. Nonetheless, every performance
is good, and the action-packed climax provides a satisfying exit for Hook.
Though it may appeal to little kids with its bedtime-story morals and
conclusions, parents might be frustrated by the dim and murky nighttime scenes. |