Peter Pan & Wendy | a movie review |

 Read Time: 6–12 minutes 

Peter Pan & Wendy 

| a movie review |

Hello, Sweet Friend! 

Today I am sharing my movie review of the new Peter Pan retelling: Peter Pan and Wendy. I love the Peter Pan story! It’s such a part of my childhood. I always loved Wendy, her maturity and how much she was like and wanted to be a mother. I love sassy Tink who had a hopeless crush on Peter Pan. I love Neverland and that whole world. I always wanted to be like Wendy and be taken by Peter to Neverland, a place where I wouldn’t have to grow up. 

Many times I felt like I grew up too fast. As the eldest child and daughter, it was my responsibility to be mature, to watch my siblings, to always be ready and able to help. I know it was my own doing. I always wanted to be of help, I just forgot there was goodness in playing, taking breaks, being a child, and having fun. It’s no wonder Neverland had such a hold on me. 

So, of course, I was excited (and very nervous) to see my beloved Neverland and Peter Pan come to life in Disney’s newest live action movie. I can happily say I enjoyed this film (I think there are better retellings and stories but I didn’t hate it which was a win)! The original animated movie will always be my favorite but I feel like this was a really fun retelling. I think one of the reasons why I like this retelling is because it felt like a retelling (its own story) rather than a redo of the animated classic. 

Now let’s get into my longer review (which is just me rambling like crazy XD) which breaks down what I thought of this retelling, the characters, filming, and setting! 

“You know, Peter. After all this, I think that to grow up…why, it might just be the biggest adventure of all.”

― Peter Pan & Wendy 

Rating: ★★★★★★ (6/10)

Cleanness: ★★★★★★★ (7/10) 

Rated PG. 

The Story:

The story was really intriguing. It felt like a darker, more grown up Peter Pan if that makes sense—especially since the Peter Pan character is much more sad in this retelling (which isn't my favorite thing because it feels a bit out of character for Peter Pan). I did think it was all interesting but there were no fantastic moments (though the pirate ship flying in the sky was really cool). 

It felt like its own story BUT with it being its own story it doesn’t have the characters I know and love. They all have the same names but none of them feel like the characters to me. Peter Pan is sad, Wendy is sassy and rebellious, Captain Hook is troubled and not dramatic, Tinker Bell is older and chill, and the list goes on. 

If you can think of this story as a fairytale retelling (like you would when reading a book) then this is a really good movie. If you look at it as a remake that is beat by beat with the same story and characters then you will be disappointed. The original animated Peter Pan is FAR superior but this is a fun adventure story—just not exactly what I would expect from a Peter Pan story. 

Breakdown Of The Characters:

Wendy Darling: 

I actually really like the actress and she had some really good moments throughout the film. That being said, she was not the best Wendy. Wendy in the animated classic doesn’t want to grow up and wants to keep telling stories and be with her brothers. At the same time she is very mature for her age and is like a little mother which is why she is even brought to Neverland in the first place—Peter brings her to be a mother and tell stories to the lost boys. 

In this movie, Wendy feels like a “modern” sassy teen who fights with her parents, hates responsibly, lies, and blames her brothers for things she did. This is nothing like the Wendy we know and love. 

She has good moments but lacks the qualities that make Wendy Wendy. Still, if you can take it out of perspective of the original and just think this is a retelling then it’s alright. 

Update: on further thought I actually think this Wendy is more like Jane from Peter Pan Return to Neverland which is the sequel to Peter Pan when Wendy is all grown up and has a daughter who is taken to Neverland (though Jane was much more mature than this Wendy, they had about the same sass level XD). 

Peter Pan:

I have mixed feelings with this Peter Pan. 

In the original, Peter is troublesome, jokes, gets into trouble, likes to play, and is childlike. That’s who he is. He never wants to grow up so acts like a kid who doesn’t want to grow up and doesn’t have parents. He hated the very idea of growing up. Still he is silly and playful and I do like his character. 

In my opinion, this wasn’t a good depiction of Peter Pan. I was missing that playful boy when instead we have a more sad and serious Peter Pan in this movie. Not the best for a boy who never wants to grow up and lives on an island that is his dream world and place with pirates and adventure. 

I think the 2015 Pan (Love this movie because the BACKSTORY is SO GOOD and I really like the Pan actor) and the Once Upon A Time series (even though technically SPOILER Peter is a villain END SPOILER) did better casting jobs of Peter compared to this which I think may be a new Disney live action trend (just saying). 

Tinker Bell:

If you couldn’t tell from the first two character studies, all the characters are different in this movie. That’s okay if you think of this as a retelling (like with books) and not a remake. 

I did like that Tinker Belle and Wendy kinda became friends in this movie. But with them being friends and Tink being aged up it loses the Tinker Bell I love. No more is the emotional, hot tempered, jealous fairy who has a massive crush on Peter. Now is an even tempered sidekick for Peter with not much of a bond between them. It wasn’t my favorite but I will say the animation on her was actually pretty well done and I liked it. 

Captain Hook: 

I miss the DRAMATIC vengeful Captain Hook. 

In this story he gets more screen time including a sad backstory that SPOILER—makes him and Peter once best friends—END SPOILER. I do LOVE backstory so that was appreciated. That being said he wasn’t as fun or scary or ridiculous as his original. Now he is sad, serious and vengeful but I feel like it lacks reason for him to be vengeful even though they gave him more backstory (this is all my opinion and upon watching it you may find you have a completely different opinion which is perfectly fine!). 

If you want to see the AMAZING backstory for Captain Hook (and Peter Pan), go read The Heirs of Neverland books by Kara Swanson! They are AMAZING and the second book especially gives backstory to Hook and Peter and it’s *chefs kiss*! 

Mr. Smee: 

Mr. Smee was perfect in this movie. Jim Gaffigan (the actor) was amazing and I laughed at so many of his parts. He was good and it was interesting seeing Smee have more backstory in relation to how he met Captain Hook. 

Tiger Lily:

Tiger Lily was cool in this one. I really liked that she was a part of more of this film since I always liked her character. It was cool how she switched from speaking English to Cree (a native american language) through the film. I did like her and how she was almost like a big sister to Peter in some of the scenes. 

John & Michael:

I have nothing much to say about them besides I think they had less parts in this movie than the original. In the original they have more of a story when in this film they felt more like side characters with little importance to the story except that they were supposed to be there because the original had them. This is just to say I wish they were more a part of the story but it’s not a big deal. 

The Lost Boys (and girls): 

I liked this group of lost boys. I know a lot of people were excited that a boy with down syndrome was one of the lost boys and I did really like that touch and thought he was a good lost boy. 

As a child who always wanted to be taken to Neverland and be a lost boy it was fun having lost girls there too…but…I didn’t understand why there were lost girls there. It was kinda just a “girls can do anything boys can do including being lost boys' ' moment and it felt like it missed the reason why there are no lost girls in the first place. 

In the original book by J. M. Barrie, there is in fact a conversation in the book saying why girls are not in Neverland:

"But where do you live mostly now?"

"With the lost boys."

"Who are they?"

"They are the children who fall out of their perambulators when the nurse is looking the other way. If they are not claimed in seven days they are sent far away to the Neverland to defray expenses. I'm captain."

"What fun it must be!"

"Yes," said cunning Peter, "but we are rather lonely. You see we have no female companionship."

"Are none of the others girls?"

"Oh, no; girls, you know, are much too clever to fall out of their prams."

This flattered Wendy immensely. "I think," she said, "it is perfectly lovely the way you talk about girls…"

So you see, there is a reason why there are no lost girls in Neverland. It’s also why Wendy was even brought to Neverland in the first place. It was not just because she didn’t want to grow up, it was because she was going to be their mother (which wasn’t really a part of this movie now that I think about it. But that is a small part and is more me rambling. 

Filming/animation: 

The animation was actually really well done in my opinion. Yes, there were some moments of animation (like with the crocodile) that could have been better but all around it was really well done (especially with Tinker Bell). This movie was a MUCH BETTER improvement over the remake of Pinocchio which I personally hate (I feel like they took out all the good parts in that film (aka. All the Christian themes and all the lessons Pinocchio learns)) but that’s another rant for another time. 

The filming was also really pretty done. I have no complaints! 

Setting:

The setting was very beautiful but it did not feel like Neverland to me. It was filmed at a really cool location but it lacked the vibrancy, wonder, imagination, and magic of the animated movie. 

This Neverland felt like a place you could go to in real life rather than this magical world you dream of going to (though I would want to go there, it’s just not really Neverland). 

So the setting was good just not for Neverland. 

In Conclusion: 

So in conclusion, it’s alright. I would say if this was a book it would be 3.5-4 stars. I don’t hate it but I also don’t love it. There are really good things about it and then things I wish were different or better. 

Bonus points though for having some random musical moments (I love musicals, so the random pirate breakout songs were enjoyable though I REALLY wish they kept the songs “You can fly” and “Your mother and mine” but alas that was not to be). 

In terms of retellings, it was again okay. It was not a remake with the story and characters being the same, those parts were all changed or reimagined (which is not a terrible thing I just missed some of the character attributes). I have read and seen better retellings that I love and this one does not make that list but I know I will rewatch it again because it was enjoyable, just not my favorite. 

Cleanness: 

This is actually a clean story. There were no bad words or anything inappropriate and bad. 

There is some violence with fight scenes, a crocodile eats people (off screen), talk of Peter cutting off Hook’s hand, etc. 

There is also a death scene that could be shocking (I know I wasn’t expecting it)  and frightening for younger viewers as a character is grazed with a sword and falls to their ‘death’ from a high area. 

And, as with the original, Wendy has to walk the plank and that can be a scary/frightening scene especially when you see her brother’s trauma responses to seeing her being taken and having to fall down to her ”death”. That whole sequence could be hard to watch, especially since the pirates forcefully take the kids and there is a lot of screaming and Wendy basically sacrifices her life to save her brothers (something that was really touching and emotional to watch). 

Otherwise this is clean. Just some violence and frightening scenes. 

The Pinterest board: 

Okay, if you know me, you know how much I love making aesthetics! So here is my Peter Pan & Wendy movie Pinterest board! 

https://www.pinterest.com/fablerosemc/book-%2B-fandoms-part-ii/peter-pan-wendy-movie/ 

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Other Peter Pan Posts: 

• Dust | Heirs of Neverland | a bookish review  

• Shadow | Heirs of Neverland | a bookish review

• 10 Books Perfect For Autumn   

• Flash Fiction: Peter Pan and more…

• My Favorite Books Of 2022  

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Discussion Time

I hope you liked this movie review!!! Thank you so much for reading this post! <3 

I want to hear from you! Meet me in the comments and tell me what you thought of this post? Have you watched Peter Pan & Wendy? Do you want to? Who is your FAVORITE character from Peter Pan? I would love to chat! 

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Love, Moriyah 💛