Pan, film review: Peter’s transformation from street urchin into the boy with powers is told in laborious fashion

Joe Wright stages some very colourful set-pieces, but the film-making never takes wing

Joe Wright’s feature is yet another “origin” story. This time, the subject isn’t a superhero but JM Barrie’s Peter Pan. The film begins strongly, albeit heavily influenced by David Lean’s Oliver Twist. On a stormy London night, a desperate woman leaves a baby boy, Peter, outside the Lambeth Home for Boys, an orphanage run by Mother Barnabas (a scene-stealing Kathy Burke). For some reason, the London scenes are set during the Blitz, not in the Edwardian era. As Peter (Levi Miller) grows up into a mischievous young boy, he is kidnapped by Blackbeard (Hugh Jackman) and taken to Neverland, where the film begins to sag.

The story of Peter’s transformation from street urchin into the god-like boy with supernatural powers is told in laborious fashion. Strangely, James Hook (Garrett Hedlund) is portrayed as his heroic accomplice. Rooney Mara’s heavily made-up Tiger Lily looks as if she auditioning for a role in some Siouxsie and the Banshees-like band.

Wright stages some very colourful set-pieces, but the film-making never takes wing. It doesn’t help that the performances are as broad as any you will find in a pantomime at the Hackney Empire.

Joe Wright, 111 mins Starring: Hugh Jackman, Levi Miller, Garrett Hedlund