Finding Neverland

Rating: 6/10 (5 January 2007)

The Symbolistas are going to have a field day with this one to say nothing of the Referentialist. From the Peter Pan reference in the title to the Tinker Bell-like fairy who makes initial contact with the heroine to the almost too numerous to mention Alice In Wonderland nods - the descent into an alternative world, keys, food and drink with magical properties etc to the nod to the Carne-Prevert Les Portes de la nuit (both films take place just after a war and impose a fantasy onto post-war reality) though Pan's labyrinth, unlike Portes, has been received almost ecstatically in some quarters whilst Portes initially bombed only to be 'reassessed' into the masterpiece it is when neither Carne nor Prevert had enjoy vindication.
There are plenty of good things here but leave us not lose our heads Mark Kermode style. Every competent, well-written, well-acted, well-made film isn't another Citizen Kane or Les Enfants du paradis, if it were then Kane and Enfants would soon be debased. This remains a good movie, a tad unusual to be sure but neither is that worthy in itself of elevation to All-Time Great status. See it by all means, enjoy it even, but keep in mind that it's only a movie, Ingrid.