THERE'S ALWAYS something stirring -- for this Peter Pan fan anyway -- about the rooftops of London and that magical bedroom where the three Darlings -- Wendy, John and Michael -- are about to meet the ultimate fantasy figure: Peter Pan. He's the charming rascal who strikes dread in the heart of Captain Hook, the spiritual pal of Tinkerbell, the stealer of Wendy's heart and prince of the Lost Boys. Plus, the boy can fly, for goodness' sake.
All he has to do is think happy thoughts. Me, I have to book through a travel agent.
The Lost Boys and Peter Pan (Jeremy Sumpter, right) come to the aid of a wounded Wendy (Rachel Hurd-Ward) in "Peter Pan."
(Jasin Boland -- Universal Studios)
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In P.J. Hogan's "Peter Pan," a combination of live action and animatronic effects, the story sticks to the usual script. Peter Pan (Jeremy Sumpter), who eavesdrops nightly when Wendy (Rachel Hurd-Wood) reads to her two brothers, loses his shadow in the Darlings' bedroom.
After Wendy helps him paste his shadow back to his feet, Peter invites her and her siblings to Neverland, where they run into Peter's lifelong enemy, Hook (Jason Isaacs), the Lost Boys and Tink (Ludivine Sagnier).
Hook, determined to destroy Peter, works out a scheme to lure Peter to his ship using Wendy. But the forces of good combine to thwart his evil plans. And that crocodile awaits Hook with salivating chops.
I can say the visual effects are wonderful. Hogan and his highly creative crew have created an array of special effects, animatronic creatures and aesthetically pleasing sets. Unfortunately, the sideshow is far greater than the main business. You love this movie for the scary mermaids that slither briefly out of the water, or that truly terrifying crocodile snapping and twisting impatiently as it pursues Captain Hook, or the gorgeous cloudscape as Peter Pan, Wendy and company traverse the skies on their way to and from Neverland.
But with only a few exceptions, the performances (and the script) range between dull and mediocre. The best work comes from Isaacs as Hook, who at least attempts interesting facial expressions, tics and vocal modulations. He seems to have fun with the role. And Hurd-Wood has a fetching, perky intelligence as Wendy. On the verge of womanhood, she's losing the battle to retain her innocence, and she resents Peter for clinging so resolutely to his.
At the risk of being a kid-basher, Sumpter certainly looks the mischievous/angelic part as Peter, but he doesn't match Hurd-Wood in the charisma or acting departments. He doesn't justify her obsession in him at all.
The most unfortunate performance comes from Sagnier as Tink. The French actor (best known for her roles in "Swimming Pool" and "8 Women"), who has been miniaturized through special effects, is all too obviously not interacting in the same frame as the other actors. (If she is, then her dislocation from her acting partners is even worse than I thought.) As for her performance, she fusses and fidgets and shakes her head in an increasingly futile attempt to be adorably fussy. She's just irritating. And small.
To parents and their young children only too grateful to find a PG movie, perhaps none of this matters. The very young are likely to enjoy the serviceable story and especially enjoy the visual sights. But to most others, I'd say "Peter Pan" needs more than happy thoughts to get off the ground.
PETER PAN (PG, 113 minutes) -- Contains one scary animatronic crocodile and the prospect of death via gangplank. Area theaters.
