Wendy

This visually impressive Peter Pan retelling focuses on Wendy but lacks a strong narrative thread beyond the chaotic wonder of a potentially never-ending childhood. Parts of the film are lovely and memorable, and in terms of cinematography, score, and production design, the movie is impressive. But the plot and the dialogue beg more questions than they answer, and there are upsetting twists that will leave viewers unsatisfied and disappointed, given the source material.

France is an expressive young actor, and -- like Brooklynn Prince in The Florida Project -- she's able to convey a lot. In fact, most of the amateur young actors do a good job, although they mostly just have to play, run, and scream in delight (there's quite a lot of hollering). The emphasis on the setting and the story's allegorical elements may lack appeal for younger viewers, but older moviegoers could be intrigued to figure out what Zeitlin is trying to say about childhood, adulthood, and what's lost and gained in the adventure of growing up. One character's story arc in particular fits into the Pan legend but is deeply upsetting to the point of being an unforgivable flaw. There's a lot to unpack in this leisurely paced, thoughtful examination of Peter Pan, but the movie falls short of the greatness expected as the follow-up to Beasts of the Southern Wild.