Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Peter panned
Two years ago, Emma Stone gave us sympathy for the de Vil in Cruella, a live action origin story for the villain of One Hundred And One Dalmatians. Now it’s Jude Law’s turn to unearth a softer side to Peter Pan’s nemesis.
In writer-director David Lowery’s remake, we learn that Captain Hook was once Peter’s best friend who returned to Neverland as a deeply embittered adult, years after being banished by the petulant flying boy.
This sly twist definitely freshens up the plot of Disney’s 1953 animation.
But it doesn’t do Peter (Alexander Molony) any favours. We discover that he
was horrible to Hook as a child. At times, he seems petulant, domineering and slightly creepy – a conflicted hero in desperate need of redemption.
As the title suggests, Wendy (Ever Anderson) has much more to do in this version. Instead of a damsel in distress, she’s a plucky heroine fully in charge of her own destiny.
When she and her two brothers follow Peter to Neverland, she’s the one who takes on Hook and teaches Peter the error of his ways. Tinkerbell (Yara Shahidi) is given much more sympathetic treatment too. She’s no longer Wendy’s rival for Peter’s affections but a helpful ally who just wants her tinkly voice to be heard.
And modern audiences should appreciate
the more respectful take on Tiger Lily (played by Cree actress Alyssa Wapanatâhk) and her family of indigenous Neverlanders.
Despite the slightly odd tone and a shortage of songs, the film summons up a few magical moments. Writer JM Barrie’s zippy plot remains mostly intact while gorgeous production design brings us twinkling night-time Edwardian London and the sun-dappled coves of Neverland.
The swashbuckling scenes are well staged, the pace is brisk and the kids are great. But I’m not sure Law’s villain works.
Dustin Hoffman and Jason Isaacs played less nuanced Hooks but were a lot scarier.
And isn’t that kind of his job?
‘‘ Captain Hook was once Peter’s best friend but was banished by the flying boy