MPAA Rating: PG
Original Review Date: January 16, 2004
Reviewed by: Erin, Movie Muse
In a Nutshell: Well, I liked it, but I also understand why it is
not doing well at all. To borrow from my husband, "it's too
childish for adults and too adult for children." (He's going to
start charging me for those, or at least requiring co-writing
credits.) By attempting to do both, it doesn't fully please
either group. What a shame.
Quick Plot: Does anyone really not know this story by now? Oh,
okay. The time has come for young Wendy to "grow up" and leave
the nursery. But she doesn't want to; she wants to stay a
teller and believer of stories to her siblings forever. And
when the star of her many adventures, Peter Pan, comes to take
her away to Neverland, where she will never have to grow up,
she jumps at the chance, but comes to learn of the things
she'll miss by staying a child forever.
In Detail: I really did like this movie. It was genuine and
heartfelt, and beautiful to watch. But, let me reiterate: it's
too childish for adults, and too adult for children. If they
had gone fully in the adult direction, it would have been truly
fantastic (well, to me), but how do you market Peter Pan to
adults? It's almost impossible. As it is, they tried to please
both groups, and instead, I think both groups leave
unsatisfied. But personally, I really liked it, and I thought
it was good to very good. The parrot was just, I don't know,
creepy, and I hated Tinkerbell. But the interactions between
Peter and Wendy were fabulous. Totally reminded me of what
it's like to have a crush when you're 10 years old. Sensual,
yet still innocent, without being sexual. Lots of parents are
saying that the film is too sensual, but I think it rides that
very fine line perfectly.
I'm about to jump into the deep end here (something I generally
try to avoid, especially here), but hang with me, okay? The
whole story has always been a metaphor for sexual awakening
anyway, whether parents wanted to believe that or not (thank
you Disney). If you go to Neverland, not only do you never grow
up, you never mature, in all forms, not just getting a boring
job or "acting proper" or whatever. By not staying, Wendy
accepts her move from "the nursery" into the adult world, along
with all that implies. And yes, I'm sure it is uncomfortable
for parents to watch two pre-teens kiss (I'll let you know after
I have my own kids), but it is very chaste and age-appropriate,
and pre-teens *do* kiss, pretty much just like that in most
cases (don't freak out, Mom and Dad, I was not one who
experienced it personally). I found it to be very beautiful
and moving, both the kiss and the film itself (well, once you
got past some of the slapstick parts). And let me tell you,
the boy who plays Peter is every 10-year-old-girl's dream!
Such a cutie-pie. ::sigh:: Oh to be that young again....
Anyway, definitely worth seeing, though quite a bit more
violent and eerie than I expected. Our theater even had it
marked as PG-13 (though technically rated PG by the MPAA), and
I'm not so sure I disagree. It's certainly borderline, so keep
that in mind before showing it to very young viewers. Will do
fine in the theater or as a rental.
