“Peter Pan & Wendy”: Disney’s risky bet



IFans have been waiting for it since the trailer was released last February. Peter Pan & Wendy, live action version of the famous cartoon, was released on April 28 on the Disney+ platform. In this rewrite, Disney seeks to think outside the box without overdoing it. This new version, with its modern color and its differences, is indeed a rewrite that does not, however, lose sight of the animated film.

The film now focuses on Wendy. The latter must go to boarding school, against her will, on the decision of her parents. But the visit of Peter Pan upsets the events and the latter embarks him for the Imaginary Country for a succession of adventures more dangerous than the others!

The message of this new version remains the same as that of the animated film. It is about the refusal to grow up. The production decided to keep some iconic scenes from the cartoon like those of Peter’s shadow that escaped or the first flight of Wendy and her brothers – an important legacy that should please fans. The imaginary country is still just as magical, populated by mermaids, Indians and other fantastic landscapes which shouldn’t disorient the fans too much.

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On the other hand, don’t expect a pure and hard, scene-accurate remake of Peter Pan, the cartoon that rocked your childhood. In reality, this new film is closer to the works of Barrie, the British writer, to whom we owe, from 1902, a series of works revolving around the young Peter Pan. Despite this literary heritage, modernity is Disney’s watchword and the two go hand in hand. Thus, there is no question here of an innocent kiss that Wendy would offer to Peter. The thimble, present in the original book, which she gives him after being injured, replaces the kiss from the animated film. The message is clear, there is no longer any question of romance between the two characters. A step towards modernity in tune with the times.

From love story toorigin story

To tell the truth, Peter Pan & Wendy is no longer at all a love story where the female characters crepe their buns for the beautiful eyes of the young man. From now on, Disney prefers to bet on female solidarity.

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Major novelty, we learn that Hook is himself a former lost child and friend of Peter Pan, rejected by the latter after having wanted to find his mother who he missed. It’s a real rewriting that David Lowery, the director of the film (to whom we also owe Peter and Eliot the Dragon Or The Green Knight) and which gives all its interest to this new version. In short, a origin story which gives more substance to the rivalry between these two great enemies and thickness to the character of the Captain.

Jude Law (Fantastic Beasts And sherlock holmes) as Hook proves particularly terrifying. The character of the captain has also gone through the rewrite box, which has erased all forms of ridiculousness from him, in favor of greater cruelty. Even if it means displeasing fans of the comic dandy.

Modernity and inclusiveness

Thus, if Peter remains a pretentious and egocentric little boy who regularly puts himself and others in danger, Wendy has evolved a lot since the previous version. More mature. More assertive – she even says she doesn’t want children. No more passivity, it is now part of all the fights. A good point for Disney, which never ceases to give the beautiful role to female characters, by giving them qualities long devolved, in animated films, to men.

Because Disney does not lose sight of the message of inclusivity that has become so dear to it. Thus, Noah Matthews Matosky (in the role of Slightly) becomes the first Disney actor with trisomy 21 and the interpreter of Tinker Bell Yara Shahidi, African-American, contrasts radically with the image of the blonde fairy with blue eyes conveyed since years by children’s books.

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However, no exacerbated wokism trial on the horizon for the American firm. If integrating female characters into “lost children” conveys the idea that there is no gender for living in nature and being adventurous, if female characters often have an androgynous appearance, Disney has kept the outfit very Tinkerbell pin-up, as iconic as it is controversial, largely echoing the animated film.

Dust off the fairy dust

Small problem: this new Disney, wanting to juggle between modernity and homage to previous versions, has unfortunately lost a little of its magic. If we find the fantastic and magical aspect of the animated film thanks to many technical prowess, especially in the sublime final scene in which the boat flies away, we cannot deny that the film lacks fairy dust. . The mythical flight over London remains quite dull and lacks fantasy, compared to that of the 1953 film. Too bad! Surprising choice: Disney removed the cult songs from the film – a shame for the firm which has been playing on the musical string for a long time – and only “Tu t’envoles” was saved. That’s already it and too bad if our nostalgia takes a hit!




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