When their eldest brother dies, Peter and Alice seek to save their parents from despair until they are forced to choose between home and imagination, setting the stage for their iconic journeys into Wonderland and Neverland.
Pam says: What a creative and inventive concept to combine Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland as siblings who go their own ways and become their respective literary legends.
Dealing with the tragic loss of their older brother and the financial demise of the family, Peter and Alice attempt to save their family from completely falling apart. Unfortunately, the story line tears at the seams from the very beginning leaving the viewer confused and in a field of fog. The convoluted premise gets bogged down and never recovers, but there are redeeming qualities in this film. Artistry allows us into the minds and imaginations of these children which brings to life the wonders of childhood. Additionally, we get an inkling of a backstory of these two prominent children which explains the why’s and how’s of their future selves.
Surprisingly, the pace and disjointed journey is rather slow and may not hold a child’s attention and it certainly will push the patience of an adult. As we struggle to hold on to some semblance of order, our interest is sporadically piqued by the cameo roles of high profile actors such as Michael Caine, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Clarke Peters. Angelina Jolie’s performance as Rose Littleton, the children’s mother who butts heads with her overbearing sister Eleanor (Anna Chancellor) and whose marital relationship with hubby Jack (David Oyelowo) is awkward to say the least. Neither looks comfortable in their roles together which takes us out of the magic of this tale. Kiera Chansa gives us a captivating performance as Alice and Jordan A. Nash finds just the right notes to create a believable Peter Pan, but with the story never jelling, it’s just not enough.
2 Stars
