Linda Thomas: at the movies

Finding Neverland
Rating: PG

Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Best for Ages: 10+

Ages 3 - 7: Yellow
Ages 8 - 12: Green
Ages 13 - 17: Green
Violence Amount: Green
Violence Portrayal: Green
Fear: Green
Illegal / Harmful: Green
Language: Green
Nudity: Green
Sex:Green

Review:
This movie gives us another chance to view Johnny Depp's ever intriguing acting skills. This time Depp plays Scottish playwright J.M. Barrie, the creator of "Peter Pan". We are in 1904 London as we follow Barrie on a creative journey while he is visualizing his new play. He does this with the help of the young widow, Sylvia Davies (Kate Winslet) and her 4 sons: George, Jack, Michael, and Peter. Sylvia has been left with four boys to raise and very little money. She comes from a good family, but she is now on her own. Barrie's home life is rather dull and unhappy. He begins to spend a lot of time with Sylvia and her boys and they give him the idea for the boy who never grew up. Barrie, a big brother and father figure rolled into one, has tremendous fun with the family and joins in all their antics. He helps the boys grieve for their father and learn how to have fun again. Dustin Hoffman plays the manager of the Duke of York Theatre and has produced other plays for Barrie, but he is not at all sure about the idea for "Peter Pan". No one has seen anything like this new play and he actors and producer are afraid of a huge flop. It is not until opening night that everyone is mesmerized by the fantasy of "Peter Pan". Millions of audiences have enjoyed this story since it was first written. It has been done and re-done as a play, a book, and a musical. Be aware that parts of the movie would be very sad for children, as the movie focuses on a loss of parents. There is also some brief language, drinking, possibility of adultery, and some mild thematic elements. Johnny Depp is fabulous and so is Kate Winslet. What would it be like to never have to grow-up? What's best about being a child, an adult? Is the author a bit of a boy who never grew-up himself? Why?