By Ben Wright (@iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)
This review is spoiler-free.
The Disney live-action adaptions have been a mixed bag, from some high highs to some very low lows! Up next on the conveyer belt is a reimagining of their classic 1953 Peter Pan – retitled Peter Pan & Wendy.
The original animated movie is very much a product of its time, and by modern standards, it’s not a comfy rewatch. From the racially insensitive portrayal of indigenous people to the overtly misogynistic treatment and depiction of the movie’s female characters. As you can imagine, these issues have been addressed, but I was happily surprised to see that the movie goes even further. Sure, the movie is labelled as Peter Pan & Wendy, but this feels very much like a Wendy-centric movie than it does Peter Pan. Ever Gabo Anderson is brilliant as Wendy, and once you get over the fact that she REALLY looks like a younger version of her mother, her performance speaks for itself! She has a very good ahead of her. Wendy isn’t fawning after Peter, she has her own agency and well-mapped-out story that refocuses the plot on not wanting to grow up, rather than being distracted by all of the magical elements of Neverland. In terms of addressing the racism, the inclusion of Alyssa Wapanatâhk as Tiger Lily, a Canadian Cree First Nations actor, as well as characters actually speaking the Cree language, rather than the racist stereotypes and tropes of the 50s version, finally did these characters justice. There is also a shakeup when it comes to the Lost Boys, which are made up of a full demographic of ethnicities and genders – Diana Tsoy as Birdie was hands down my favourite!
As for the story? Well, as I have already mentioned, this is very much Wendy’s movie, and at its core is the notion of not wanting to grow up. This also has a knock-on effect on the subplot between Peter and Jude Law’s Captain Hook, who both undergo major character and backstory changes from what we usually are presented with. There has always been this concept that Peter is just as much a villain as he is a hero, and the movie bravely leans into this idea and exposes Pan’s selfishness. On the other end of the scale, Captain Hook is finally given the backstory the character deserves. Jude Law is perfectly cast and is the movie’s strongest asset. Hook as a character undergoes a huge transformation, which involves a huge undercurrent of sadness that fuels Hook’s character, and the sympathy and empathy drawn from Law’s performance add to this. The first forty minutes, pretty much, cover the entirety of the animated original, so there is over an hour of a new story to enjoy. The script is brave and pushes the story into bold and refreshing new territory.
Peter Pan & Wendy has a fascinating visual style. It blends the magical nature of the world with a realistic approach, so everything feels very tangible. The colour palette is very subtle and washed out, and I think the move away from the vibrancy of previous adaptions works well for this particular movie. There are some great visual shots throughout the movie, with Big Ben and Captain Hook’s ship at the centre of the movie’s most stunning visual moments.
In terms of the negatives? It’s a hard one to pin down, as I think overall this movie gets a lot right. I just feel like it didn’t make the most of its potential in some instances, and I think that makes it a little muted at times.
Overall, Peter Pan & Wendy is a refreshing and imaginative adventure, whose brave story and creative decisions make it one of the best Disney live-action adaptions to date.
X-Geeks 