Neverland (2003/I)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Damion Dietz

Writer:

Damion Dietz (writer)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

Never grow up. Never grow old.

Plot Keywords:

Gay Interest | Pirate Costume | Peter Pan | Amusement Park | Drag Queen

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Deborah Quayle	...	Mrs. Darling
Marcus Reynaga	...	Michael
Wil Wheaton	...	John
Melany Bell	...	Wendy Darling
David Jahn	...	Mr. Darling
Joey	...	Nana
Stephanie Kirchen	...	Liza (as Stephanie Orff)
Rick Sparks	...	Peter Pan
Kari Wahlgren	...	Tink
Ryan Patrick Kelly	...	Tootles
Ian Mantha	...	Slightly
Eli Swanson	...	Curly
Zac Cole	...	Nibs (as Zach Cole)
Tyler Kremer	...	Twin #1
Nathan Towry	...	Twin #2

Runtime:

USA:83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Bellflower, California, USA

Company:

New Media Entertainment LLC

Soundtrack:

The Burn

Great Idea!! What happened???

I'll skip the plot summary, since we all know the story, don't we?

A great idea. I was excited as soon as I held the box.

Then the film started. A long, long, agonizingly long title sequence (consisting of someone taking random, wildly unplanned shots of a neon sign spelling the film's title) begs the mental image of the director saying "yeah, but when we cut it together it will look great".

Then we see the actors. Oh...my...GOD!!! Patronize your local high school's drama club, it'll be on that level. Peter tries, as does Wendy, to act, and the effort is admirable. They at least believe what they are doing. That doesn't make them talented unfortunately.

The show screeches to a halt at Neverland, with Captain Hook coming off like Uncle Ernie from Tommy, and a poorly written and executed musical number by Tiger Lily.

You have to lay this one at the director's feet. He BLEW a great idea.

I don't mind digital video, its a great way to introduce new talent who can't find the budgets other filmmakers can. But this? Blech. So many shots have poorly chosen color schemes meant to pass for style, and often it looks like someone smudged grit on the lens before rolling the tape.

Thank God Tinkerbell knows what she's doing as an actress. The bright spot in this wonderfully conceived but horribly executed mess. And Hook channelled Vincent Price to some effect, but somebody decided to mangle his performance in the editing room.

Having an ethnically and sexually diverse cast does NOT equal social commentary. I only say that, because the film does give off a "superior" air, indicating it was meant to mean something. Instead, it merely repeats the themes of the original text.

I do mind paying the rental premium for what comes off as someone's high school video project.

In short, great idea, horrid acting (save for Tink), awfully self conscious style, nice sets, terrible writing, inconsistent tone, some decent music.

The good things cannot overcome the three biggest flaws...horrid acting, mind crashingly bad acting (save one), and ridiculously amateurish direction.

2 out of 10