January 11, 2005 -- This is a surprisingly lightweight story about James Barrie and his inspiration for the play “Peter Pan.” The movie is “inspired by true events,” but strays far from reality in its romantic portrayal of Barrie. Barrie is, in fact, a well-known case in the history of abnormal psychology. He was physically, emotionally and sexually stunted due to his mother's pathological grief over Barrie's brother's untimely death as a child.

Barrie was a short, dour, unattractive little man, not the tall, handsome, charming fellow portrayed in the movie by Johnny Depp. Barrie, like Peter Pan, is a boy who never grew up. Hints of the real Barrie remain in the movie, however. There is even a mention of his mother's grief over his brother's death in the film, and Barrie's failed marriage.

The movie, based on the play by Allan Knee, “The Man Who Was Peter Pan” shows Barrie's friendship with a widow, Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (played by Kate Winslet of “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”) and her four children, (again based on fact, but the real woman was not widowed). The altered facts do enhance the drama.

A parallel is drawn between Barrie's grief over his stunted marriage and childhood, and how he is able to empathize with the grief the four boys are feeling. He shows young Peter (who the hero of his play is named for, played well here by Freddie Highmore) how to use his imagination to overcome his grief. He becomes a mentor and father figure to the young boys. Although darker things are hinted at in the movie, Barrie's relationship with this family probably was, in fact, as innocent as it appears to be in the film. The ending of the film is wonderfully romantic.

Good acting by Depp and by Julie Christy of “Troy” as the boy's grandmother, Mrs. Emma du Maurier. Radha Mitchell of “Man on Fire” is effective as Barrie's wife, Mary Ansell Barrie, and Kate Winslet is also effective as mother of the boys, Sylvia Llewelyn Davies. Dustin Hoffman also shines in a supporting role as Charles Frohman, a beleaguered theater director. The film also has good production values. It is slickly made and it looks great. The cinematography makes England look as lush and green as paradise. The film is whimsical, but it lacks dramatic punch. It's dramatic energy level is so low, it is almost non-existent. Maybe that's because there really isn't a villain in the story, just a lot of well-meaning people. That tends the take the wind out of the old dramatic sails. What it needs is Captain Hook. This film rates a B.

For more information on this film, including story (synopsis and production notes), talent (director and cast notes) and trailer, click on this link to the official home page of Finding Neverland at the Miramax studios web site.

Copyright © 2005 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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