(rated PG)
Based upon the play “The Man That Was Peter Pan” and “inspired by true events” comes a story set in London circa 1903. Johnny Depp is James Barrie a failed playwright by night, whose day job is convincing his loyal and upbeat producer (Dustin Hoffman) that he has come up with yet another show to finance. At home, Barrie finds a less than enthused wife (Radha Mitchell) who spends little time interested in his passion for his writing. And so one day, Barrie finds himself in the park where he meets Ms. Davies (Kate Winslet) widow and mother to a quartet of little boys, who will soon be the muse Barrie has been waiting for. As Barrie madly puts quill to paper, the town gossips, but no one more than Mrs. DuMaurier (Julie Christie), not only the inspiration for Captain Hook but also grandmother to the children. With more than a touch of the Peter Pan syndrome, Barrie refuses to grow up. Nothing is “just” anything. With “just” you can imagine and anything can be – boys who can fly, boys on pirate ships (Sidenote: Depp has a pirate fetish again playing a momentary pirate following last years’ “Pirates of the Caribbean”) and days on end playing make believe with the Davies boys. The movie in and of itself is magical, transporting us to places we’ve never dreamed, but felt in our hearts. A movie like this doesn’t come along often (heck, last time was “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” in the 1960s). Real tears are pulled from every person in the theatre – even the men – the boys at heart. You’ll fall for it hook, line and Tinker-belle but its only downside is while it seems to appeal to children, it’s very much for grownups. That’s where word of mouth will be needed for this movie to find its proper audience.
Based upon the play “The Man That Was Peter Pan” and “inspired by true events” comes a story set in London circa 1903. Johnny Depp is James Barrie a failed playwright by night, whose day job is convincing his loyal and upbeat producer (Dustin Hoffman) that he has come up with yet another show to finance. At home, Barrie finds a less than enthused wife (Radha Mitchell) who spends little time interested in his passion for his writing. And so one day, Barrie finds himself in the park where he meets Ms. Davies (Kate Winslet) widow and mother to a quartet of little boys, who will soon be the muse Barrie has been waiting for. As Barrie madly puts quill to paper, the town gossips, but no one more than Mrs. DuMaurier (Julie Christie), not only the inspiration for Captain Hook but also grandmother to the children. With more than a touch of the Peter Pan syndrome, Barrie refuses to grow up. Nothing is “just” anything. With “just” you can imagine and anything can be – boys who can fly, boys on pirate ships (Sidenote: Depp has a pirate fetish again playing a momentary pirate following last years’ “Pirates of the Caribbean”) and days on end playing make believe with the Davies boys. The movie in and of itself is magical, transporting us to places we’ve never dreamed, but felt in our hearts. A movie like this doesn’t come along often (heck, last time was “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” in the 1960s). Real tears are pulled from every person in the theatre – even the men – the boys at heart. You’ll fall for it hook, line and Tinker-belle but its only downside is while it seems to appeal to children, it’s very much for grownups. That’s where word of mouth will be needed for this movie to find its proper audience.