Movie Review

Finding Neverland

The cruel part about life is that eventually you will get older and everything around you will begin to become more important, leaving all imagination and adventure in the dust. That, in a nutshell, chronicles my experiences with Peter Pan. A story that gave me such a sense of wonder as a child has, movie remake after remake, begun to take its toll on me. Marc Forster?s new film, Finding Neverland, which centers around how author JM Barrie created the story, is also about how reality can get in the way of our hopes and dreams, only it seems too light to really affect us.

Playwright JM Barrie (Johnny Depp) is considered to be the top draw author in 1903 London, but after bombing in his last play he is convinced that he has yet to plumb the depths of his talent. One day while sitting in the park he meets four young boys, Peter (Freddie Highmore), Jack (Joe Prospero), George (Nick Roud), and Michael (Luke Spill). They are the sons of Sylvia Davies (Kate Winslet), a young widow who lost her husband when the boys were very young. Barrie becomes sort of a father figure to the boys, but it is the boys, especially Peter, who inspire Barrie to write his tale of Peter Pan. Others are not so happy, however. Barrie?s estranged wife (Radha Mitchell) never gets to spend time with her husband anymore, while Sylvia?s mother (Julie Christie) is afraid his involvement with the boys prevents Sylvia from finding a decent husband.

This is a funny and cute little film, but that is about all. It stretches us to use our imaginations, but it?s preaching to the TV, movie, and video game generation that won?t put too much stock in it. The games Barrie and the boys play are lightly entertaining, but they can only engage for so long. This movie is lacking in any real substance, which explains why the last third is dedicated primarily to Sylvia?s illness. It would have been nice to learn a little more about Barrie and how he strew this story together, but all we get are bits and pieces of it. Depp tries hard, but really all he can do here is make Barrie look less like a Michael Jackson figure and more of a whimsical one. Freddie Highmore gives a very good showing here, though, as the practical Peter, and I can?t wait to see him next year in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.?

Finding Neverland isn?t so much a bad film as just an inconsequential one. It?s nice, but way too nice to be remembered for being anything important at the end of the year. I thought for sure that Johnny Depp would get another nomination out of this, but now I?m not even sure of that. This may be one of those films to take the family to, but I would leave the dog and the Oscar voters at home.

Craig's Grade: C+

A	10.9%
B	41.8%
C	31.8%
D	15.3%
F	0.3%