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QUICK PLOT SUMMARY:
Animation - Sequel to Disney's classic Peter Pan and set during the second World War, in which Wendy's daughter Jane is kidnapped by Captain Hook in order to lure Peter Pan to him.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: G
- The MPAA rated this film G for Animation fun and adventure.
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Reviewer's Corner
Disney’s Return to Neverland a fun trip, but not magical
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In the classic story of Peter Pan, we visit an enchanted place called Neverland, get sprinkled with a little fairy dust by Tinkerbell, and meet a boy who would never grow up. Peter Pan and his Lost Boys got to spend every day doing what children could only dream of – having wild adventures in a magical realm and fighting off Captain Hook, Smee, and the rest of his cronies. Many of us know and love the original story, either having experienced J.M. Barrie’s classic tale or growing up with Disney’s beloved animated feature that first came out back in 1953. Almost half a century later, our old friends return in this sequel, set during the backdrop of a bombed out London during World War II, as Captain Hook kidnaps Wendy’s daughter Jane in a plot to capture Peter Pan once and for all.
Jane is everything that Wendy never was. She’s a level headed young girl who doesn’t believe in imagination or magic, and has grown cynical early due to a world where her father has gone off to fight in a war that is devastating the city where she lives. When Hook and his men show up one night at her window, they immediately mistake her for her mother, and whisk her off to that second star to the right – heading straight on till morning (while trying to dodge British fighter planes and bombers that dot the dark London skyline.) After arriving in Neverland, we catch up with characters old and new, including a spirited octopus, whose popping, suctioned arms drive Hook crazy and take the place of that old crocodile’s ticking belly. Can Peter and his friends help a jaded young Jane to believe she really can fly before the Captain grounds sprightly Pan and the boys for good?
Disney’s Return to Neverland is good fun for the little ones, but pales in comparison to the classic we hold so dear to our hearts. Much like Steven Spielberg’s take on this material in his vision of a grown Peter Pan in Hook (1991), this retread of familiar territory has the feeling of a trip back down memory lane, only the people and places don’t quite shine like they once did. Neverland is still that wonderful place it always has been, but here it never feels like we’re there long enough to soak it all in and enjoy it. The most interesting parts of the film occur in the beginning, as the blitz rains down on London (the image of Captain Hook’s ship flying through a sky filled with warplanes is actually pretty cool.) However, when we finally reach that magic isle, the luster of this sequel has worn off. This is a fun film with some catchy songs that kids of all ages will enjoy well enough to own it alongside the original on the video shelf, but secretly, you’ll be going back and wearing out that original version long before you need to replace your copy of Neverland. Ultimately, this is a nice little sibling to a great classic that will always have a place in our hearts.
Reviewed by Jon David Loraditch
What do YOU think? -- February 21, 2002
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WHO SHOULD SEE THIS MOVIE:
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- AS A DATE MOVIE
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- Probably Okay - For some older couples, this stuff will seem pretty childish and cheesy - but it's innocent fun that you can't really scoff too much at.
- CHICK FLICK
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- Probably Okay - Girls young and old will probably enjoy this tale and will like revisiting Peter and his friends.
- GUYS MOVIE
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- Maybe - For the kids, this film is great, and bringing them to the show should be a lot of fun. For the older guys, though, this stuff will most likely quickly lose their interest.
- CHILDREN
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- Great Bet - This film is great for kids, with a quick and snappy story and some fun music.
- TEENAGERS
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- Probably Okay - A lot of teens will probably find this stuff silly, but the younger ones will probably get a kick out of it.
- GENERATION X
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- Probably Okay - A lot of Gen X-ers will undoubtedly compare this to the original, and it's no contest. This was originally slated (like so many other Disney animated sequels) for a straight to video release, and many young adults will wonder why it made the leap to a theatrical run.
- BABY BOOMERS
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- Maybe - Boomers will probably see this as a cheap spin off of the original, but their hearts will be softened if they take some little ones to see it on a matinee.
- MATURE AUDIENCES
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- Maybe - Mature audiences may find this stuff just boring, but again, the experience will be enhanced with some little ones in tow.
- INTELLECTUALS
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- Maybe - Some audiences may enjoy comparing both this and the original Disney film to the stories by Barrie.
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WHAT PARENTS SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE THEIR CHILDREN SEE THIS MOVIE:
MOVIE DETAILS:
- VIOLENT ACTS
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- Very Little - Simple cartoon violence.
- SEX/NUDITY
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- None -
- PROFANITY
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- None -
- TENSE SCENES
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- Some - A young girl and her dog have to make it home through the dark streets of London as it's being bombed; all the children of the city are ordered seperated from their parents and shipped to the countryside for their protection.
- IMMORAL/ILLEGAL BEHAVIORS
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- None -
- QUESTIONABLE CONTENT / UNHEALTHY BEHAVIORS
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- None -
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- Children's Value Rating
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Great fun for kids of all ages.
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