‘Finding Neverland’ a treasure for whole family
by Vicki Wilson |
“Finding Neverland” is a treasure - it’s one of those rare movies
that children and adults can enjoy together. It has enough magic to
keep the kids happy, and almost enough magic to make adults believe in
fairies again.
Exploring grown-up issues like difficult relationships, sickness,
the loss of childhood and the loss of loved ones, “Finding Neverland”
is a fictional account of Peter Pan author J. M. Barrie’s life while
writing the classic children’s tale. The movie chronicles his play
writing struggles and his involvement with the Llewelyn Davies family,
who becomes the inspiration behind Barrie’s most famous work. Barrie
meets the rowdy, fun-loving clan by chance in the park, and begins to
visit the widow and her four young boys often. Barrie’s frigid,
social-climbing wife, however, and the boys’ controlling grandmother
disagree with the amount of time Barrie spends with the Llewelyn Davies
children, and people in town begin to talk. Nevertheless, Barrie and
the family continue to grow closer, and the story of Peter Pan begins
to unfold in Barrie’s mind.
Johnny Depp has earned both critical and popular acclaim for the
diverse and sometimes unusual roles that he chooses, but he gives one
of his best performances yet as Barrie in “Finding Neverland.” With the
perfect mix of maturity and boyish charm, Depp was an obvious choice to
portray Barrie, and he was the first cast member to sign on for the
movie. Kate Winslet plays Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, the widowed mother of
four boys, and Julie Christie is their
disapproving-of-almost-everything grandmother. Barrie’s loyal theater
producer, Charles Frohman, is portrayed by the perfectly comedic Dustin
Hoffman, and the relationship between Barrie and Frohman is cheery and
amusing. Mention must be made also of Freddie Highmore, Joe Prospero,
Nick Roud and Luke Spill – their acting is so good as the four young
Llewelyn Davies boys, it’s hard to believe that they’re not real
siblings.
Directed by Marc Forster (of “Monster’s Ball” fame), “Finding
Neverland” is a visually and emotionally beautiful amalgamation of fact
and fantasy. A dance in the park with a dog turns into a ballroom waltz
with a bear; imaginary pirate battles turn into real pirate ship
escapades. You’re never quite sure where the next scene will take you,
and it’s a lovely journey.
DVD special features include featurettes “The Magic Of Finding
Neverland,” “Creating Neverland,” and “On The Red Carpet,” all of which
are worth watching to get an insider’s peek into the making of the
movie. Filmmaker commentary and outtakes are also offered and are
worthy of note.
With sentimentality that adults will not only stomach but will also
enjoy, and a magic that engages viewers of all ages, “Finding
Neverland” is a beautiful movie that merits watching more than once.
Even at 106 minutes, it almost feels like it’s over too soon. “Finding
Neverland” is thoroughly enjoyable, and, like the classic Peter Pan,
reminds us of the importance of childhood and the power of imagination.
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