The Magic Of "Pan"

Rating: 9/10 (3 March 2017)

The magic of the "Peter Pan universe" is something that most children experience at some time in their lives. The thrill of staying young forever, flying away to distant lands, and battling pirates is one that can easily capture the imagination of the young. "Finding Neverland" is the story of how James Barrie created that magical universe that has stood the test of time.
For a basic plot summary, "Finding Neverland" sees struggling playwright James Barrie (Johnny Depp) introduced to Sylvia Davies (Kate Winslet), a widow with four young children, on a chance encounter at a local park. While forming a bond with Sylvia and especially her playful children, Barrie begins to realize the power of "play" and "imagination" and begins to incorporate those elements into a new play about a boy who never grows up.
This film is very successful on two different levels:
1. The backstory on Barrie/Davies is very interesting. I knew nothing about it going in, so I can't speak to the accuracy of all the events depicted, but it sure seems as if Barrie was truly inspired by the Davies children.
2. For fans of the Peter Pan narrative, seeing the story come together bit by bit is a visual and emotional treat. It is kind of strange to think of the Pan story as anything but pure childhood escapism fiction, but this movie shows us how it was quite real to the actors, theater-goers, and producers of the day.
Only helping matters is the solid acting by Depp and Winslet, who are both so "classically trained" in acting (I believe they have both done much theater) that their casting is perfect in this period piece.
Overall, then, "Finding Neverland" is a fun, informative film for fans of the Peter Pan cannon. It will bring out your emotions, humor, and sense of history while viewing.