Peter Pan & Wendy Review - Lacking Magic but Still Saved
The focus of Peter Pan & Wendy is on Peter, Wendy, and the villainous Captain Hook rather than delving more deeply into Neverland or its inhabitants. With regards to locations like Peter's hideout with the Lost Boys and Hook's ship, Lowery, who co-wrote the screenplay with Toby Halbrooks, sought to work with practical locations as much as possible; special credit must be given to production designer Jade Healy. But it also has the unfortunate side-effect of lessening Neverland's overall wonder. This no longer seems to be a fantasy world separate from the real world. It's more like a visitor-friendly island.
When Peter Pan & Wendy tackles the more sinister elements of the well-known tale, it performs at its best. Although Lowery has insisted that his version isn't a grim remake, Peter Pan & Wendy is unquestionably anything but a whimsical Disney adventure. The Darlings only experience a brief moment of delight in Neverland before the stakes increase around them and push them, especially Wendy, who receives the meatiest role except Hook, to data-face the idea that maturing is actually a good thing. Anderson, whose past roles include portraying a young natasha in Marvel's Black Widow, does a good job of balancing Wendy's innocent demeanour and her quickly approaching maturity. As a result, Wendy becomes a sympathetic protagonist.
Like his previous films Pete's Dragon and The Green Knight, Lowery approaches this well-known story with a mature, grounded perspective. The director has created a genuine remix of the cartoon classic it was based on, even though Peter Pan & Wendy may not soar as far as it could due to this. It surely merits praise for attempting something novel, and it might provide viewers a fresh viewpoint on the youngster who would not grow up.