I've been putting off reviewing "Finding Neverland" for a few weeks now. Why? Well, because I found it to be an enjoyable, but wholly unremarkable film that was well worth my time to watch, but not to review. I've finally broken down and have decided to critique it.

"Finding Neverland" is a semi-true story of JM Barrie (Johnny Depp), the playwright behind "Peter Pan." The film follows Barrie after his newest play flops and he gains inspiration in the form of a kind, but struggling family. He starts a friendly relationship with the mother Sylvia (Kate Winslet) and becomes a father figure to her young boys (The most notable of them being Peter, played by talented newcomer Freddie Highmore, who will be starring alongside Depp in the upcoming "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"). The story leaves out such facts as Sylvia's husband still being very much alive (in the film, she's a widow) and I've been told there was a fifth boy completely cut out of the story. The film also chooses not to dabble in the rumors that Barrie was a pedophile, but that may have gotten in the way of the theme of the film.

What is the theme, you ask? It's about the power of imagination and all that good stuff. It's about how it's okay to be silly and have fun while living an otherwise productive life. It's a theme I wholeheartedly agree with. I don't though, need this theme shoveled down my throat by a ham-fisted director who is trying to feed me a barrel of schmaultz. Marc Forster, the same fellow behind the equally heavy-handed "Monster's Ball" is often far to obvious with the theme, and while many of the scenes that show the importance of imagination seem remarkably stupid.

Oh, but I mustn't say all of them! When Depp plays with the children and "make-believes," we see his imagination. How about a two-dimenssional pirate ship sailing on an ocean of paper? Or a bizarre waltz with a giant bear or even a humorous Wild West fantasy? These moments of random innocence are wonderful. It's later in the film, when these fantasies become more symbolic that they become irritating. I also wish that Forster had spent more time with the "behind the stage" sequences with the actors and the producer (played by a wonderfully toned down Dustin Hoffman) as they struggle to create the play Barrie is writing about a forever-youthful boy who can fly. As a student of theatre myself, I loved these scenes and missed them when the focus of the film was changed.

Hoffman's performance is a nice one in a cast of many nice performances. Julie Christie is also good as Sylvia's overbearing mother, and the children are passable (the only questionable performance being the youngest son). This is really Depp's and Winslet's show, though, and the other actors seem to realize that. Winslet is wonderful as the ailing, stubborn, but loving mother. It's not her best performance of 2004 ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" anyone?) but she once again proves herself as one of the best actresses of the new generation.

Depp will most assuredly get an Oscar nod for his work here, but it is one of his lesser roles. Lesser meaning still one of the best you may see, but not quite up to the sheer brilliance of "Ed Wood" or some of his other roles. Depp is very toned down here, playing a child-like, but at the same time, very mature man. Any Depp performance is worth the price of admission, and he doesn't disappoint.

"Finding Neverland" is not the best film of the year. It probably won't even make my top 10. That doesn't mean I don't recommend it; I do, very much. This is a sweet and gentle film, not a common sight in modern film, but at time's it's a little too sweet. Sickeningly so. The last 10 minutes are truly cringe-worthy in their corniness.

Complaints aside, this is a solid film with many wonderful aspects that can be enjoyed by most everyone.

© Written by Jacob Hall

How We Rated This Film TC Candler - B+ Richard Propes - A Jacob Hall - B+

TC Candler's Comment

This film sneaks up on you.

Richard Propes' Comment

"Finding Neverland" is the recipient of the Award of Excellence for the 2004 Heartland Film Festival, and attendees were blessed with a pre-release viewing of the film at the IMAX Theatre in Indianapolis this past week.

The film details the experiences of "Peter Pan" author J.M. Barrie that lead him to writing the children's classic. Barrie, portrayed by Johnny Depp, spent time with four children who had no fathers and from these relationships created the wondrous story of "Peter Pan."

Depp deeply immerses himself in the character of Barrie and arrives onscreen with a performance of tremendous, beauty, tenderness, magic and inspiration. If not his finest, it is most definitely one of Depp's finest performances ever. Additionally, Kate Winslet reminds us what a tremendous actress she in a somewhat tragic role as a young mother. Perhaps the other true find of this film is Freddie Highmore, who is simply enchanting as Peter Davies. Depp was so impressed by Highmore's performance here that he got him cast as Charlie Bucket in Tim Burton's upcoming "Charlie & The Chocolate Factory." I can't wait to see the two of them onscreen together again.