Return to Never Land

Movie Title: Return to Never Land
Official Website (it might still work): Return to Never Land
Rating (out of 10): 2
Reviewed By: Michael Stevens
Buy the: Video/DVD \| Soundtrack
The Review:

Peter Pan peanut butter, eat it every time you can, but only if it’s Peter Pan! That’s right boys and girls the Peter Pan that you probably grew out of by the age of ten is back in Disney’s latest animated feature, Return to Never Land. So Pete is back and he’s all grown up and making a living as a porn star, er wait, wrong movie, though that would have made for a more interesting story line, thus making this movie entertaining for people over the age of ten. However, those of us over ten are stuck watching this version of this film. I think I will now mention that I hate children’s films that do well at the box office (since that means I have to go watch them). Now children’s films that also contain humor for adults (see Toy Story 2, Shrek, and Monsters, Inc.) are OK, but not movies like Jimmy Neutron or Cats & Dogs. And breathe.

As to our feature, the first five minutes of this very short film (luckily for me) is an old Disney cartoon starring Pluto. After that we finally begin the real story with the man, the myth, the legend, Mr. Peter Pan (with credit going to my high school history teacher for the whole man, myth, legend bit). In this story, Wendy (Kathy Soucie) is all grown up with her own children now, including young Jane (Harriet Owen) who is about Wendy’s age when the story last left off. But, Jane no longer believes in Peter Pan and is very grown up for her age since she has taken responsibility for looking after her brother since her father went off to war. Plus, soon Jane and her brother Danny (Andrew McDonough) will be shipped off to the countryside to escape the Blitz in London during World War II. Enter Captain Hook (Corey Burton, Atlantis) to kidnap Jane (he thought she was Wendy) and then takes her to Never Land. Once there, of course Peter Pan (Blayne Weaver) and the infamous Lost Boys rescue Jane. And then there are another 45 minutes of lame adventures that the adults must sit through before finally being released from what I like to call Kiddie Hell.

Return to Never Land is directed in tandem by Donovan Cook and Robin Budd. Other cast members lending voices to characters are Jeff Bennett, Quin Beswick, Spencer Breslin (Meet the Parents), Jim Cummings, Aaron Spanns, Frank Welker, Roger Rees, Dan Castellaneta, Clive Revill, Bradley Pierce, and Rob Paulsen.