Peter Pan

Review by Clint Morris

Once upon a time there lived a reckless, free spirited Victorian teenager with as much predilection for low-priced, quick-working Fruity Lexia as he did for films.

One night, he combined his two loves – and the milieu at which his amalgamation was brewed would never be the same.

Yahooing, flirting with his female date and largely, blasé about the film on show, the outcome of such a testing was that spicy ferment could be more entertaining than the motion pictures, which said teenager so dearly loved.

Could it surely have been the fact that booze was the only way to get through the film on hand?

Might said cask have been the night's saviour for the lad, not the microbe that soiled his all?

Considering the film on show that night - Steven Spielberg’s Hook [1991] - that's exactly the case. Like magical fairy dust that would make even the most unappealing of theatre experiences energetic, alcohol made the uber-director's take on Peter Pan slightly more appealing - for ten minutes or so anyway, until he noticed the tricks of a fly on the curtain to the left.

Yep, film's last attempt at recreating the “Pan” story was about as exciting as watching maggots crawl over three-week old cat food.

Spielberg’s version of the J.M Barrie classic Peter Pan was a travesty. No amount of alcohol could make it entertaining; nor did the all-star cast do much for it. For every actor cast in the film – Robin Williams was Pan, Dustin Hoffman was Hook and Julia Roberts was Tinkerbell – the film took more and more steps away from the source material.

Every consecutive person in the theatre that night looked at the lad, only dreaming of having a glass of whatever alcohol he'd obviously downed before entering.

In fact, P.J Hogan's take on “Peter Pan” might be the first time one's advised not to take a swig of scotch before entering.

Okay, so it's the same old story, there are no real stars in it, and the fact that it was made in Australia will regrettably put some off, but when all's said and done, it is the closest incarnation of the classic fairytale the screen's seen in years.

But mainly, there's enough energy, excitement and spectacle on show that'd keep anyone enthused for a couple of hours – even without their stand-by mini-bar sized whisky in their jacket pocket.

Hogan [My Best Friend’s Wedding, Muriel’s wedding] essentially sticks to the basis of the original story, in turn creating a much more enjoyable experience than most of the other versions in recent years.

Peter Pan [Jeremy Sumpter of Frailty] arrives on the windowsill of the Darling Children's Victorian London home, and whisks them away from a world full of problems and approaching puberty.

He teaches Wendy, Michael and John how to fly – with a little help from the impish Tinkerbell – alongside him to a place called Neverland, full of neon skies and snow dusted Alps.

Within minutes of their arrival though, Pan and his new friends catch the eye of the villainous Captain James Hook [Jason Isaacs], who's forever determined to seek revenge on the young lad who played a part in having a croc chomp off his hand.

Hogan has crafted a great looking, very entertaining version of the story. Okay, so like his predecessors, he's changed some things too (added a couple of new characters for one), but mostly he's stuck to the original story and what Barrie originally intended the tale to play as.

But that's not half the attraction of the film. The look of it is much more appealing. Rich colours, saturated landscape, exquisite scenery….it's a gorgeous painting come to life.

As the first boy ever to play Pan on film (unbelievable isn’t it?) Sumpter is right at home. He's little, cheeky and obviously a very committed young actor. Possibly even better is newcomer Rachel Hurd-Wood, just adorable, and a pleasure to watch as the eternally smitten Wendy.

And though Jason Isaacs and Ludivine Sagnier (who doesn't have any words) aren't as good as we could have hoped, they fill the shoes of Captain Hook and Tinkerbell, respectively, quite well.

If one had to find a flaw in Pan, it lies somewhere between the middle and the end. There doesn't seem to be one – a middle that is. Narrative seems a bit off somewhere towards the film's inner, and doesn't pick up speed until towards the last couple of scenes - but having said that, the target audience mightn't notice it as much as more finicky, older companions.

As good as it may be in comparison to the earlier incarnations of the story; Peter Pan still has its work cut out for it. With such grand family fare like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and the stable of releases coming out of Pixar, vying for your money and attention these days, it's likely this one won't get the attention it deserves.

But do remember it when the lobby puts up the Full House sign on the Rings marquee.

3.5 out of 5

Peter Pan
Australian release: Thursday December 18th
Cast: Jason Isaacs, Jeremy Sumpter, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Ludivine Sagnier, Olivia Williams, Richard Briers, Harry Newell, Freddie Popplewell.
Director: P.J. Hogan.
Website: Click here.