Disney+’s newest movie, Peter Pan & Wendy, is now available to stream. The question is: Is it actually fun for kids?
Disney’s New ‘Peter Pan’ Fixes the Problematic Plot Points of the Original, But Is It Actually Fun for Kids?
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Published May 3, 2023
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Eric Zachanowich/Disney+
Well, according to PureWow Editor-in-Chief Jillian Quint’s two elementary-school-aged kids, it’s a resounding “yes.” Her daughter kept her review simple: “I liked all of it.” However, her son had a bit more to say: “I liked the pirate parts best, like when Peter Pan was pretending to be a pirate and then they had that sword fight. Pirates are always up to no good.” They sure are.
Peter Pan & Wendy is a live-action version of the classic story, following Wendy Darling (Ever Gabo Anderson) as she meets a boy (Alexander Molony) who refuses to grow up. Along with her siblings, she follows Peter Pan to Neverland where she encounters the evil Captain Hook (Jude Law).
We were initially skeptical of the remake due to the racial and social issues that were presented in the original 1953 movie. But after watching Peter Pan & Wendy, we can confirm the new film fixes the story’s problematic plot points in a kid-friendly way.
According to Quint (who obviously watched along with her kids), “Tiger Lily is played by a Cree actress; Wendy and Tinker Bell team up to be their own heroes, Peter is played by a South Asian actor, which makes some interesting points about colonialism.”
Eric Zachanowich/Disney+
There’s a fine line between action-packed and child-appropriate, and the balance in Peter Pan & Wendy is key. The story incorporates pirates and sword fights in a way that appeals to kids instead of scaring them.
Plus, Jude Law’s Captain Hook is way less frightening than previous films, like Hook and Pan (though we’re Team Dustin Hoffman all the way). Some adults may feel that Peter Pan & Wendy’s Captain Hook lacks excitement, but your kids will likely disagree (remember: “Pirates are always up to no good.”) and that’s all that matters.
Eric Zachanowich/Disney+
The movie also does a great job of bringing the fairytale to life in a live-action format without sacrificing the “magic” of the original film. Everything from Tinker Bell’s fairy dust to Peter Pan’s shadow is elevated with modern CGI to make the magic seem, well, realistic. While most of the humor is geared toward children, the dialogue is quick and witty so it’s also enjoyable for adults (and isn’t that the most magical part of all).
Peter Pan & Wendy is now streaming on Disney+.
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