Peter Pan directed by P.J. Hogan, written by Hogan, adapted from the book by J.M. Barrie, produced by Lucy Fisher, Stephen Jones, Patrick McCormick and Douglas Wick, with Rachel Hurd-Wood and Jeremy Sumpter. A Universal release. 105 minutes. Opens Thursday (December 25). Rating: NN Rating: NN
This is a creepily literal translation to the screen of the late-Victorian children’s book. Although live-action, it borrows its lurid palette from the Disney cartoon, and the already baroque sets are richly festooned with CGI effects. Most jarringly, though, the film seems bent on making the story’s erotic subtext overt. When an openly leering Peter Pan (he looks about 10) hovers over the pouty, made-up Wendy, the current resonances of the word “Neverland” are a little too present for comfort.
Too scary for little kids, too determinedly odd for almost anyone else, it’s hard to figure out who this film is actually for.
