Film Reviews

Return to Neverland

• Rating:
• Director: Robin Budd.
• Starring: (the voices of) Harriet Owen, Blayne Weaver, Corey Burton, Jeff Bennett, Andrew McDonagh, Kath Soucie.
• Details: US / 72 minutes / (G).

Eschewing the CGI dominated content of recent animated fare, Return to Neverland is the perky and, truth be told, quite charming sequel to Disney's 1953 classic, Peter Pan. Opening in London during the blitz, we are quickly introduced to Jane (Owen) who is the daughter of the grown up and married Wendy - Peter Pan's friend in the original. Despite her mother's best efforts, Jane doesn't believe in Peter Pan, and thinks her mother may have imagined the whole thing. But when Captain Hook (Weaver) mistakes Jane for Wendy and whisks her away to Neverland, the youngster finds herself in a whole host of trouble. Nostalgia can be a terrible thing at the best of times, but in the case of Return to Neverland, this wistfulness is both infectious and welcome. The film's central premise may hark back to simpler times 'n' simpler ways, but the enthusiasm and general good humour of the picture ensures that it's a pleasant excursion. Sure, the animation is hardly striking, but the atmosphere and tone makes it enjoyable fare and a worthy companion piece to the (nearly) fifty-year-old original.

Review by Garreth Murphy