Peter Pan and Wendy Movie: A Fresh Take on a Beloved Classic
Fans of the beloved classic “Peter Pan” may have some mixed feelings about the new live-action adaptation, “Peter Pan & Wendy.” The film, set to premiere on Disney+ on April 28th, is directed by David Lowery, known for his work on “The Green Knight.” This update of the classic story has already begun to divide audiences and critics (Screen Rant).
Despite its reputation as a children’s tale, “Peter Pan” has always had a dark underbelly. Lowery’s new adaptation seems to play on these darker themes, offering a “sophisticated” take on childhood (Polygon). Though critics are split on whether this approach is successful or not, many are praising the film’s addition of “diverse Lost Boys and authentic Native representation” (USA Today).
Jude Law stars as the infamous Captain Hook, while newcomer Ever Anderson takes on the role of Wendy. Yara Shahidi also appears in the film as Tinkerbell (Billboard). Fans of the original animated movie may notice a few differences, with reviews noting that the film is true to the source material while also making changes to update and modernize the story (USA Today, The New York Times).
One sticking point for some critics seems to be the film’s pacing. TIME panned the movie as an “exercise in drudgery,” calling it a slog to sit through (TIME). IGN’s review, meanwhile, reads more positively, describing the film as “what you’d expect” from a live-action Disney adaptation (IGN).
Overall, it seems that “Peter Pan & Wendy” is a mixed bag. Fans of the classic story will likely appreciate the ways in which the new adaptation stays true to the original while updating certain aspects to make it more relevant to modern audiences. Those looking for something fresh and exciting may be disappointed, however, as the film seems to play it rather safe. Nevertheless, the movie is sure to attract its fair share of viewers when it premieres on Disney+ this week (MovieWeb).
