Ironically, in his role as the creator of "Peter Pan," Johnny Depp finds himself playing the most "normal" character he's done onscreen in quite some time. Which is not to say that "Finding Neverland" is necessarily conventional or normal.
While you might rightly expect this type of material to be treacly, weepy and formulaic, "Finding Neverland" manages to sidestep those cinematic and storytelling pitfalls. Not that it eschews emotion or sentiment. But such moments are done more subtly and effectively than you might expect. As a result, the film will probably wring a few tears from even the most cynical, hard-hearted moviegoer.
Depp plays J.M. Barrie, the Scottish playwright and author, and the story revolves around his relationship with Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (Kate Winslet), a widowed mother of four young boys (Freddie Highmore, Joe Prospero, Nick Roud and Luke Spill). Barrie also befriends the boys — even Peter (Highmore), who has retreated into an emotional "shell" after his father's death.
The resulting fantasy "role-playing" games that Barrie develops with the boys are good for him, too, inspiring him out of a writer's slump to create his best-known work — you know, the one about Lost Boys and Neverland. At the same time, however, the married Barrie's relationship with the widow becomes somewhat scandalous, putting him at odds with her disapproving mother-in-law (Julie Christie) and his wife, Mary Ansell (Radha Mitchell).
David Magee's screenplay (adapting a stage play) does take some liberties with the real-life characters. But even the more sketchy moralistic details are approached with great sensitivity, and director Marc Forster keeps the tone refreshingly light.
The performances make it even more effective. Depp is as terrific as always, and Winslet makes the most of her surprisingly limited screen time. The supporting cast manages to hold its own, with Christie adding depth to a character that could have been extremely one-dimensional. And the youngsters give very mature performances, especially Highmore, who is exceptional.
"Finding Neverland" is rated PG for some stage violence, as well as use of some mildly vulgar slang terms and profanity. Running time: 106 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com