Common Sense Media Review
By Danny Brogan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Peter Pan/Alice in Wonderland origin story has grief, peril.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Come Away
What's the Story?
COME AWAY tells the story of how siblings Alice (Keira Chansa) and Peter (Jordan A. Nash) found their way into Wonderland and Neverland respectively. Following a tragic accident, Alice and Peter must try to console their parents, Rose (Angelina Jolie) and Jack (David Oyelowo), while their imaginations blur the lines between what's real and what's not.
Is It Any Good?
Come Away promises much but delivers little. A movie that brings together Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan sounds like the makings of a wonderful fantasy tale. Sadly director Brenda Chapman's first live-action venture -- following The Prince of Egypt and Brave -- lacks any of the magic of her two previous animated adventures. For a movie about childhood imagination, little is left for the audience to unpack. The subtext is laid on far too thick, with any peril telegraphed with lazy cliches. The references to Lewis Carroll's and J.M. Barrie's original material are also often crowbarred in, with no real benefit to the story.
Ultimately the movie suffers from not knowing who its audience is. By focusing so much on grief, it's a film that is too heavy for the very audience that may have got the most from the more whimsical elements of the story. The blend of fantasy and real life also makes it difficult to empathize with any of the characters' predicaments. With the likes of Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michael Caine, Derek Jacobi all cropping up to support Jolie and Oyelowo, Come Away, sadly, feels like an opportunity missed.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Come Away portrays grief. Discuss the different ways each member of the Littleton family deals with their family tragedy. Who did you relate to most? Why?
Discuss the peril and violence in the movie. Did the movie's fantasy tone affect how you felt about it? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
Why is it important for us not to lose our imagination?
How does having a diverse cast impact the story? Why is representation in media important?
How many references to Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan did you spot?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 13, 2020
- On DVD or streaming : November 13, 2020
- Cast : Angelina Jolie , David Oyelowo , Gugu Mbatha-Raw
- Director : Brenda Chapman
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Relativity Media
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Book Characters , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Pirates
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong thematic content, some violence, fantasy action, and unsettling images
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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