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Return to Never Land

Starring: Blayne Weaver, Harriet Owen
Director: Robin Budd, Donovan Cook
Genre: Drama
Year: 2002
Rating: 2 / 5

Return to Never Land, the sequel to 1953's wildly successful Disney classic Peter Pan, is a misguided attempt to capture the magic of the original, even if it does manage to bring a smile to the faces of its young viewers. Nearly forty years after Walt Disney first released Peter Pan to the big screen, the eternally young elf is just as playful as ever. Soaring about his magical island with his dear Lost Boys and foiling the dastardly plans of Captain Hook, Peter Pan lives in his own little world. The visitor to his world may have changed, but the elf's spirit remains as upbeat and lively as ever. If only the same could be said about the adventure on which he leads us all.

Jane (Harriet Owen), young daughter of Wendy (of the original Peter Pan), is forced to grow up quickly when her father is called for military service. Deep in the heart of World War II, the Germans are bombing London, and all able-bodied men are being summoned. With that decree, Jane leaves her childhood behind, tasked now with caring for her mother and young brother Danny. While Danny is able to delight in his mother's tales of Peter Pan and his adventures, Jane quickly dismisses such childish things. She scoffs at her mother's speeches about "faith, trust, and pixie dust," choosing to focus on worldly concerns beyond her years. Fate, though, has other ideas.

The night before Jane and Danny are to be sent away for their own safety, Captain Hook and his band descend upon Jane's home, kidnapping her and whisking her away to Never Land. Hook, thinking he has captured Wendy herself, hopes to use the young sprite to finally rid himself of that rascal Peter Pan. Pan is not so easily fooled, and he is soon spiriting Jane away from the clutches of the Captain Hook. Alas, Jane does not share her mother's faith in the magical, and it soon produces some dire consequences for Peter Pan, the Lost Boys, and especially Tinkerbell. The only hope is that Jane will come to believe in all that Peter Pan stands for, but will it be in time to save her new friends?

Return to Never Land is an interesting animated piece in this day and age, considering all the advances put forth by films such as Shrek and Monsters, Inc. The animation is very standard, and, unlike its contemporaries, Return to the Never Land makes no attempt to impress its adult viewers. Its lone concession might be its 65-minute runtime, which might actually be a negative in light of today's soaring ticket prices. In spite of all this, the children in attendance wore wide grins upon exiting the theatre, meaning that the film may have indeed hit its mark with its desired target. Return to Never Land marks one of Walt Disney's first big screen sequels, but it certainly will not be the last. Hopefully, future offerings will do justice to the revered Disney name.

Cast:

Certification: Rated G.
Running Time: 65 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
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