May 1, 2023 · Watch the official trailer
Filmmakers at their core are storytellers.
Even if a director specializes in one particular genre of movie, so much of their skills are transferrable to any variety of tale that what matters most is creating something inventive and imaginative for audiences.
David Lowery – the Texas based director of independent dramas like “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints,” “A Ghost Story” and “The Green Knight” – makes his second foray into family-friendly work, reteaming with Disney for a live-action adaptation of a classic animated film after 2016’s “Pete’s Dragon.”
“Peter Pan and Wendy” plays more closely to the original 1953 animated feature than most modern adaptations, but Lowery leans into his unique visual aesthetic for a modestly entertaining, visually dynamic movie that will sure to be an easy watch for younger audiences and won’t entirely bore adults either.
More so than any other adaptation, “Peter Pan and Wendy” maintains the narrative focus on the eldest Darling child rather than the titular “boy who wouldn’t grow up” and makes the story accessible to a wider audience through its focus on diversity and strong female characters, a hallmark of newer Disney storytelling that feels more intentional in its screenplay and direction here rather than simple messaging.
Lowery takes some liberties in assuming audiences will know the larger story of Peter Pan and uses this knowledge to home in on the experiences of Wendy Darling, capably portrayed by Ever Anderson. In a conscious decision to shift the traditional hero of the tale into a supporting role, Lowery’s choice to place viewers in Wendy’s corner is a welcome twist on convention for this genre.
The main problem within “Peter Pan and Wendy” is that despite the desire to feature younger talent, none of the protagonists are memorable enough to help drive the story forward when it’s so clear where things inevitably lead.
Anderson has a general likability to her Wendy, though the screenplay fails to give her enough character development to establish her motivations beyond a generic desire not to grow up and none of the characters evolve over the course of 100 minutes.
Newcomer Alexander Molony does a decent job taking up the mantle of such an iconic character as Peter Pan, but it’s clear throughout that Molony hasn’t developed the range required to capture Peter’s inner sadness at the same level he exudes the bravado and recklessness to fearlessly fly into the face of danger.
Jude Law – the one A-lister amid character actors and youngsters – has his own unique eccentricity to Captain Hook that makes him somewhat menacing yet complicated and Law’s ability to draw audiences in results in Hook often being the most compelling character in the entire film.
The real draw to “Peter Pan and Wendy” comes in Lowery’s visual adaptation of the source material and how layered in texture the cinematography feels as if it’s pages from a storybook coming to life. High contrast in the highlights and shadows – a staple of the director’s artistic vision across his filmography – accentuates the vibrant, adventurous nature of Neverland compared to the more sullen, boring everyday life in London.
Production design and costuming don’t exactly rise to the same dark gothic nature as Lowery’s masterful work on “The Green Knight,” but it’s clear that his experience blending fantasy with a hyperdynamic realism will carry forward in intriguing visual ways that help cover any narrative flaws Lowery faces in big-budget studio work.
Landing on Disney+ for a streaming-only premiere is both a terrific decision and a devastating one for cinema as audiences would only likely see “Peter Pan and Wendy” at home due to its lingering pace and more indie auteur cinematic style, but Lowery’s visuals deserve to be enjoyed on the biggest screen possible regardless of the story itself.
While not for everyone, “Peter Pan and Wendy” has the bones of a terrific movie and just enough for audiences to take a chance on with a home viewing.
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