‘Peter Pan & Wendy’: Review

Dir: David Lowery. US. 2023. 106mins

This latest trip to Neverland does not journey very far from the traditional narrative laid out by author J.M. Barrie in his 1904 stage play ‘Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up’ and subsequent book. Indeed, this version of the boy who refuses to leave childhood behind and the girl who challenges his worldview lands squarely in Disney’s remit of inoffensive family fare, steering clear of any new interpretation which could rock the (pirate) boat or alienate the intended audience. Yet, despite the fact that it trades in a dogged familiarity, this magical story still retains some spark.

This magical story still retains some spark

Streaming on Disney+ from April 28 after a theatrical release was reportedly cancelled due to production delays, the film should entice an audience already familiar with the original story. No matter that there have been many previous live action outings for Barrie’s creation — from Spielberg’s Hook (1991), PJ Hogan’s Peter Pan (2003) , Joe Wright’s Pan (2015) and Benh Zeitlin’s Wendy (2020) — this evergreen tale remains a firm family favourite, and the presence of Jude Law, clearly having a blast as the dastardly Captain Hook, could help attract wider attention. This year marks the 70th anniversary of Disney’s animated Peter Pan, although this remake is not explicitly hung on that particular hook.  

Thankfully, director David Lowery (A Ghost Story, The Green Knight) and screenwriter Toby Halbrooks — who also co-wrote the 2016 live action remake of Disney animation Pete’s Dragon — have determined to view Barrie’s creation through a more modern lens, even though that doesn’t mean any sweeping alterations. Small tweaks update the hundred-year-old material while remaining faithful to it.

Most obviously, and as suggested by the shared title, this Wendy is no maternal second fiddle to Peter (played by likeable newcomer Alexander Molony). As portrayed by Ever Anderson (daughter of Milla Jovovich), she is a feisty, independent young woman, torn between the idyll of youth and the daunting responsibilities of impeding adulthood. She is not content to simply fit into a mother-shaped mould, whether at home or in Neverland — indeed, as she explicitly tells Peter, she is not sure if she even wants children. This no man’s land of adolescence has always been where Peter Pan is at its most poignant, and one of the film’s most moving moments comes as Wendy’s life flashes before her eyes — not backwards but forwards, snippets of colour and joy, hers for the taking if only she can be brave enough.

Elsewhere, Yara Shahidi becomes the first actor of colour to portray Tinkerbell on screen, and Peter’s loyal Lost Boys are a richly diverse bunch of children of various backgrounds and abilities. Peter’s friend Tiger Lily is played by Canadian First Nations actor Alyssa Wapanatahk, and is as handy with the tomahawk as she is with her words of wisdom. For his part, Law is a hugely likeable Hook, digging into the pathos of a character who has his own touching reasons for both detesting and treasuring his nemesis Peter, as well as his gleeful moustache-twirling villainy. 

Lowery turns Vancouver into an imposing Neverland, where Bojan Bazelli’s camera shifts between the kinetic action of a sword fight, soaring high with the children, and capturing the terrain in painterly wide-shot. The score, by longtime Lowery collaborator Daniel Hart, is unashamedly — and, at times, somewhat overwhelmingly —  sweeping. More subtle are effective lighting choices, with locations being lit differently depending on whether they are occupied by Hook or Pan; the seemingly (and deceptively) endless sunny horizons of childhood vs the growing shadows of age.

Effects are well-utilised, particularly in the wormhole shift from London to Neverland and a tumultuous showdown between Hook and the mighty croc who ate his hand. They play second fiddle, however, to Jade Healy’s sumptuous production design. Connections between the real world and Neverland are less overt here than in other adaptations, which often have the same actor playing Hook and Mr Darling (played here by Alan Tudyk).

Matching Peter in strength and will, Wendy plots her own course here; not so much second star to the right and straight on til morning, but fearlessly into her own future. Her strength of character and forward-thinking sensibilities are the pixie dust that should help this Peter Pan And Wendy appeal to a whole new generation of little darlings.