“A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD” — 31⁄2 stars — Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Chris Cooper, Susan Kelechi Watson; PG (some strong thematic material, a brief fight, and some mild language); in general release; running time: 108 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” may not quite be what you expect, but it’s everything you should hope it would be.
Inspired by a true story, Marielle Heller’s film paints a portrait of one of television’s most iconic personalities from the perspective of a journalist who could use a little Fred Rogers in his life.
“Beautiful Day” opens like a traditional episode of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” the long-running children’s program guided by the kind and soft-spoken man in the red sweater. Played by Tom Hanks, Rogers sings his title song, swaps his suit coat for his sweater and his dress shoes for a pair of Keds and shows us a picture of a broken man who needs to heal.
As the film transitions from the TV show to the real world, we meet Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys), a bitter journalist with an icy reputation. Lloyd has a wife, a baby and a successful career, but at his sister’s wedding, he gets into a fistfight with his neglectful father Jerry (Chris Cooper) and reveals some painful demons.
Soon after, Lloyd’s editor Ellen (Christine Lahti) assigns him a simple 400-word profile of Rogers as part of a modern heroes feature for an upcoming issue of Esquire magazine. Lloyd balks, insisting he doesn’t do puff pieces. But Ellen holds firm, warning her writer that his reputation has become a problem.
So Lloyd sets out for Pittsburgh, where Rogers has taped his show for decades. Before he leaves, his wife Andrea (Susan Kelechi Watson) pleads: “Please don’t ruin my childhood.”
In Rogers, Lloyd finds a curious man who is every bit as eccentric off set as he appears on set, though at the same time completely devoted to the people around him — even if it holds up production on a daily basis.
In a quick interview, Rogers assures Lloyd that his goal is “to give children positive ways to deal with their feelings.” Lloyd is unsatisfied with that answer and doubts the authenticity of his subject. So the interviews continue, the profile grows to a feature and Lloyd is forced to confront his own demons as he strains to understand his enigmatic subject.
Audiences may be surprised to learn that “Beautiful Day” isn’t a straight biopic. Rogers plays more of a supporting role than a protagonist. The narrative is centered around Lloyd and his journey — which really makes better sense since it is the journalist who needs the character arc.
In that way, “Beautiful Day” acts as a perfect complement to last year’s charming documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” from director Morgan Neville, which covered more of the biographical A-to-Z content. In “Beautiful Day,” we get a sense of how Rogers could impact a specific person in a deep and meaningful way.
Naturally, “Beautiful Day’s” biggest selling point is Hanks, who slides into the Mister Rogers role so effortlessly that you struggle not only to differentiate him from his character, but also to think of anyone else possibly handling the part (in a fun life twist, Hanks recently learned he and Rogers are sixth cousins). Neville’s documentary put Rogers in vivid relief, and under Heller’s direction, Hanks embodies the same sense of unconditional love.
In a brief introduction featured in the press screening, Rogers’ widow Joanne endorses the film, championing the effort as a needed message in a conflicted time. “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” doesn’t take sides, but offers its message of kindness equally and makes it clear that sometimes it’s the grownups who need Mister Rogers most of all.
Rating explained: “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” draws a PG rating for thematic material and a few intense exchanges (including Lloyd’s fight with his father).