Popcorn Perspectives with Danny Minton
Week of April 17., 2023
Peter Pan & Wendy
Rated PG for peril, violence and thematic elements
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 63%
Streaming on Disney+
Aside from being a Texas resident, writer/director David Lowery has built up quite a resume in Hollywood with well-respected titles such as The Green Knight and A Ghost Story. He’s even worked for Disney before in the underrated Pete’s Dragon remake. What I’m sure was originally slated for theaters, Disney has marked direct for streaming, probably due to an unknown cast, but certainly not due to quality. This retelling of the Peter Pan story isn’t exactly a remake of the animated classic, but it has many of the elements. Wendy (Ever Anderson) and her brothers are whisked away by a young Peter Pan (Alexander Molony) on a trip to Neverland where they confront great action and peril, mostly at the hands of Captain Hook (Jude Law) who will do anything to see Peter and his friends dead. It has a bit of a slow start, but it quickly gets going upon entering Neverland, with loads of action and some very unexpected plot twists. And quite honestly, those twists are what make this a special (or at least more special than it should have been) movie. This very much had the potential of becoming a dull retread, especially given how many Peter Pan movies we’ve had throughout the years. But instead, new life is breathed into the story as new depths are achieved. By the end, we get an enjoyable family adventure that might just bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eye if your’e not careful. B+
Ghosted
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language, some sexual content, sequences of strong violence/action
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 30%
Streaming on Apple TV+
In this action-filled romantic comedy, Chris Evans (Captain America) finds himself falling in love with a beautiful young stranger (Ana de Armas) only to find that she won’t respond to his dozens of texts after their hot and heavy first date. But when he shows up in London to surprise her, he discovers that she is really a CIA operative and he is now tied up in a dangerous adventure, whether he wants to be there or not. There are some moments where the film hits you with some comedic bright spots, especially the numerous impressive cameos from some really huge names, but unfortunately those laughs are quickly washed away from the bad writing, and subsequently the bad acting spewing from it. With so many great actors and Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher at the helm, it is quite shocking that the film manages to misfire so much. And while the script is serviceable, it manages to sputter by on fumes, when it should have been completely gassed up and ready to go. By the end, it turns out to be a film you really wanted to like, but one you know you should have ignored after the first date. C-