Wendy follows Peter to Neverland, where he tells her she will never have to grow up but then makes her into the mother of the Lost Boys. She assures him (and herself) that they are only playing, but she feels the pull of the adult world. She even tells Peter that Captain Hook is "a man of feeling" while he is just a boy. And feelings are taken very seriously in this story. Fairies like Tinkerbell can have only one feeling at a time. Peter cannot answer when Wendy asks him what his feelings are. And Hook has a deadly poison made up of "a mixture of malice, jealous, and disappointment."
As Barrie requested in the notes for the play, one actor plays both Hook and Wendy's father. But it is Hook and Peter who are truly linked. Wendy observes that Peter has no unhappy thoughts and Hook has no happy ones. Hook tells Peter, "You will die alone and unloved, just like me."
But all of this is only there to give depth and resonance to an enchanting classic story which is lovingly, even tenderly told in a movie that will become a classic itself. Thrilling adventure, touching drama, and delightful comedy will give audiences of all ages all the happy thoughts and fairy dust it takes to fly.
Families who enjoy this movie may also enjoy the many versions of Barrie's story, including Disney's Peter Pan , and the Broadway musical version, especially the ones starring Mary Martin and Cathy Rigby. The origins of the story are explored in the 2004 tearjerker Finding Neverland .
Families might also enjoy other movies with similar themes, including Mary Poppins and Gigi.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
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