Captures a childhood spirit

Rating: 9/10 (16 May 2013)

Sweet and gentle drama with a sense of whimsy and a super cast. Depp keeps the weird down and comes across as charmingly lovable, Kate Winslet is strong on the surface but vulnerable underneath. There is a terrific performance from Freddie Highmore as young Peter, Dustin Hoffman is fun as J.M. Barrie's sponsor and of course the great Julie Christie is flinty and wonderful as Kate's mother able to do more with mere gestures than most actresses or actors for that matter can with pages of script. The staging of the play is well done and the night of the premiere gives you a real sense of the magic the audience felt in that more innocent time. A charming film.