Peter Pan (1953)

In the wake of the monumental success of Snow White, the studio's first feature length film, Walt had very quickly decided to make a movie based on J.M. Berrie’s constantly evolving play about Peter Pan, the magical boy who didn’t want to grow up. Unfortunately for Disney getting access to the rights to a produce a film proved difficult and the studio opted to make a movie based on Carlo Collodi’s novel, “the Adventures of Pinocchio” instead. When Disney finally acquired the rights to make a movie four years later, from a children’s hospital in London, to whom J.M Berrie had bequeathed the rights to his story in 1929, the studio was financially deeply troubled and its future thrown into uncertainty by World War II. Despite Walt Disney’s deep personal interest in the project, his film about Peter Pan wouldn’t be released until 1953.

In the meantime, however, the Disney storytellers had been hard at work attempting to find their own way to tell the oft told tale, which actually exists as many different versions since J.M. Barrie himself had changed various details and scenes in his play (and novel) over the years with each production. Similarly, the final Disney story had gone through a number of different versions before being finalized by Walt Disney himself. The result is a very well packaged if not slightly puerile story which probably stands as the version most of us know best.

Today Peter Pan is remembered as a classic and easily one of the most popular in the Disney film canon. For many years, until recently, the entire pool structure at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim was completely Peter Pan themed. Michael Jackson has even gone on the record saying that it was his favorite movie of all time, which actually explains quite a few things for me. My wife also claims that it is her favorite Disney movie of all time. The critics generally praised it as well. Me on the other hand, I just kind of like it, but that’s all.

As I’ve said, the story telling is nicely done and imaginative. If you don’t know, Peter Pan is a brash pubescent boy who dresses in green leotards, has the ability to fly, and resides in a magical place called Neverland where children go to never grow up. At first it seems like he only exists in the bedtimes stories told by Wendy to her younger brothers until one night, after their parents are away, Peter Pan appears to them in the flesh and whisks them off on an adventure meant to keep Wendy from having to grow up (and so she can tell her stories to Pan and his L.A. street gang of boys known as the “lost boys”). However conflict emerges as Pan’s fairy companion, Tinkerbell, is intensely envious of Wendy, who has gained the constant attention of Peter Pan and to complicate matters a band of pirates led by Pan’s arch nemesis, Captain Hook, is hatching a plan to knock-off the flying boy wonder once and for all. No scene is wasted and every whimsical little moment of it somehow pushes this story forward in satisfactory fashion.

The animation itself is also quite good though cartoonish when compared to earlier Disney classics. Don’t expect the kind of work found in Cinderella or Snow White, but you still have to love the details in the flying sequence over London. The music is fun but thin. Beyond the tight storytelling if this movie has strength its in the fun characters. Captain Hook is simply one of the greatest Disney villains of all time. He’s the perfect comedic combination of a 19th century dandy with a ruthless brigand who though hilarious still retains the air of being a real threat to Wendy and her brothers. Mr Smee, Hook’s dotingly doltish first mate, is equally fun. Peter Pan on the other hand is obnoxious. I can’t imagine a more unlikable hero. He’s mean spirited, selfish, and well....a little odd. Wendy on the other hand is just sort of dull. She’s almost just a prop for Peter Pan to fly around with in order to showcase more interesting people and places. Tinkerbell on the other hand, while poorly dressed, is really great as Pan’s would be pantomime love interest....would be, if she were only a little taller, I guess. Seriously though, she’s really great, if not a cause for scandal to your eyes.

My biggest beef with this movie though comes down to a controversial issue handled poorly within the film that bothers me intensely. You probably already know what I mean, yes, that’s right, I’m referring to the stereotypical and hurtful depiction of pirates. Pirates play a central role in Berries original play, along with Native Americans, English children and fairies, so I understand why they hand to be brought into the film but couldn’t they have been added with more care to their depiction, especially in light of how they have been so often misrepresented and maligned in popular media? Not all pirates wear canvas breeches, bandannas or even an eye patch. Many don’t even live on ships at all but rather do all of their pirating from a computer at home. There’s even an entire musical sequence that mocks the pirate life, “the life of a crook”! Since when did engaging in the mere re-appropriation of wealth entail being a crook? It’s ridiculous and wholly insensitive to an entire group of people. The Somalies are probably totally pissed.

Otherwise, this is a very fun if not slightly vapid and childish Disney classic with a wholly disagreeable protagonist. I give it 3.7 half-naked pixies out of five.