Review | Peter Pan and Wendy Is a Magical Remake That Hits On All Cylinders
Annlyel James 
“With Peter Pan and Wendy, I was struck by how quickly the movie unleashed my inner child as I stared at my television in silent awe,” says Annlyel James
It’s time to explore the magic of Disney’s Peter Pan and Wendy. But before I begin this review, I must make something immediately clear. I have never watched 1953’s Peter Pan, the movie that I’m almost certain this film is based on. My knowledge of the little boy who never grows up and his enduring battle with Captain Hook is solely comprised of my knowledge of Steven Spielberg’s Hook. A magical film I’ve seen twice and enjoyed both times.
Robin Williams’ grown-up Peter Pan versus Dustin Hoffman’s imposing, perfectly conceptualized Captain Hook was the golden standard of this story. Because of that, I never needed to watch Disney’s Peter Pan. So imagine my slack-jawed wonder as I watched Peter Pan and Wendy. A film as magical as any live-action Disney remake I’ve ever seen.
SECOND STAR TO THE RIGHT!
The film flies by, sometimes literally, as Wendy and her brothers embark on a magical but surprisingly perilous adventure with Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. I was struck by how quickly the movie unleashed my inner child as I stared at my television in silent awe. And then Jude Law’s Captain Hook entered the chat. And I instantly knew this movie would be special.
Jude Law steals the show as the delightfully cruel pirate captain with a long list of rules you’d better abide by. From his first second to his last, he brought such powerful emotion, villainy, and presence to this movie. Disney has always been a company with some of the most frightening but memorable villains you’ll ever find in children’s stories. And Jude Law lived up to that glorious standard.
What I wasn’t expecting from this remake was for the story to be so incredibly dark. I often said aloud, “This is a children’s movie?.” As a little girl watching this film, I could imagine being terrified by Hook and his unrelenting ruthlessness. The emotional storytelling, however, ultimately made this film as special as it is. The story was so emotionally driven that the movie’s final shot turned me into a weeping mess.
VERDICT
Suffice it to say; I thoroughly enjoyed this lovably diverse, heartwarming remake of a Disney classic. Unlike Pinocchio, which was a genuinely dismal reboot of the animated gem, this reimagined classic is a movie I will show my children one day. Purely because of its brilliance and its powerful message. I’m a fan.
Peter Pan and Wendy is now streaming on Disney Plus.
Annlyel James is a Senior Correspondent of The Future of the Force. She is passionate about Star Wars and Marvel but loves a wide variety of movie genres. Aside from her role with Future of the Force she also writes for her blog: annlyelonline. Follow her on Twitter where she channels the Force frequently!
