Finding Neverland

A-

This is a very sweet and sentimental movie about the author of Peter Pan, J. M. Barrie. Having already enjoyed success as a playwright he is found at the beginning of the movie to be running out of good ideas. Set in Victorian days, it is quite a scandal when the unhappily married Barrie starts spending time with a widow and her four boys. As his marriage continues to fall apart, his imagination catches fire and he is soon writing a new play to be called Peter Pan.

Johnny Depp plays Barrie. I was expecting a Robin Williams type of character from Benny and Joon, but instead he plays the part pretty straight and, as a result, presents Barrie as a completely normal and believable character. In a movie about the power of make believe, it is important to provide characters and performances that seem so genuine. While the movie becomes quite sentimental towards the end, I didn't feel emotionally manipulated. The result is a sweet and charming movie that will make you cry for any number of reasons.

I'll give it an A-

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