Last week, Disney+ released its newest live-action film with Peter Pan & Wendy.
When we begin, it’s the last night at home for 13-year-old Wendy Darling (Ever Anderson) who is off to boarding school the following day. After releasing her inner-child, Wendy reveals to her well-meaning parents (Alan Tudyk and Molly Parker) that she doesn’t want to grow up.
Later that night, whilst everyone is sleeping, Wendy is visited by Tinker Bell (Yara Shahidi) and Peter Pan (Alexander Moloney), characters she believed were just from a fictional tale.
Before long, she and he brothers Michael (Jacobi Jupe) and John (Josh Pickering) are thinking happy little thoughts and flying off to Neverland. When they reach this magical land, Peter’s band of Lost Boys face off against the evil Captain Hook (Jude Law) and his band of pirates.
This live action adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s much-loved novel and Disney’s 1953 animated film is adapted by David Lowery and Toby Halbrooks, who keep all the elements of the classic tale while also updating it for a 2023 audience. The Lost Boys now include a few girls, while Captain Hooks’ story is fleshed out a lot more.
Law is perfectly cast as the villainous Hook, while the young cast all sparkle with their performances, with Anderson’s Wendy and Moloney’s Peter the main highlights.
Peter Pan & Wendy makes for the perfect family fun and those who are still young at heart.
4 Stars
Peter Pan & Wendy is now streaming on Disney+.
