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PAN-Tastic Journey

Every superhero needs an origin story, and while Peter Pan may not be a superhero in the traditional sense, he is an heroic figure, whose spunk and ne'er-do-well antics appeal to children across the globe. And in "PAN," we learn what made a hapless orphan into the boy who would not grow up.

Dropped at an orphanage as a boy, with a note from his mysterious mother, Peter (Levi Miller) is a curious lad, unafraid to question authority, even at the expense of his physical well-being. One night, he and many of his fellow orphans are kidnapped by pirates and carried away in a flying ship. If you're expecting that Captain Hook is behind this dastardly attack, you'd be mistaken. It's that other pirate, Blackbeard (played deliciously by Hugh Jackman) who ordered the raid. Hook also features in the story, but in a way one might not expect.

Peter is dragged off to Neverland to work the mines with thousands of other conscripts. Blackbeard is seeking faerie dust or "pixum," as it holds the key to his seeming immortality. As he did back in our world, Peter runs afoul of the authorities and is sentenced to die, which (spoiler alert!) he doesn't. If he did, it would be a very short movie. Instead he discovers an ability to fly, or at least, to not fall particularly quickly. He also learns that there had been an ancient faerie prophecy that a boy who could fly would come and free them from their oppressors.

In the mines, Peter meets one James Hook (Garreth Hedlund), an Indiana Jones-like ruffian - complete with fedora - still in possession of both hands. Hook helps the boy escape in search of Peter's long lost mother. Along the way, the pair and an accomplice are captured by the natives, including princess Tiger Lily (Rooney Mara) who develops a not-entirely-believeable romantic interest in Hook. The natives spare the three escapees but make it clear that if Peter can't prove that he is the chosen one (by flying again), they shall all be executed. No pressure.

The problem here is that Peter lacks confidence and is unable to repeat his anti-gravity antics. Meanwhile, Blackbeard is finally able to launch a successful attack on the natives, capturing them and learning about a hidden stash of faerie dust in a secret location. Can Peter rise to the challenge and save the faeries and natives from Blackbeard? Will Hook show his true colors and betray the boy who refused to grow up? You'll have to watch it and see.

Overall, the film was quite enjoyable. My wife and two tween kids also enjoyed it (my ten-year-old daughter more so than my 11-year-old son). There are a few elements that strain plausibility: Tiger Lily's affection for Hook, Hook's seemingly altruistic willingness to help, Blackbeard's decision to spare the boy when he knew it may lead to his undoing. A flashback-type sequence between Blackbeard and Peter's mother was hard to follow. And the use of modern music (Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and The Ramones "Blitzkrieg Bop"), being sung by thousands of kidnapped orphan miners, was a little distracting. Also, when you look at the story closely, it is remarkably similar to "Star Wars," from the orphaned young hero with special powers, right down to the maverick ship's captain and his attraction to a feisty young princess. But there are also many fun moments as well as some genuinely touching ones that should provide for an entertaining escape for a couple of hours.

Overall, as a coming-of-age/origin tale, PAN's merits outweigh its flaws. There's a bit of a continuity gap between this and the more familiar Peter Pan story we all know. Could they be setting things up for "PAN 2: Pirate Boogaloo," coming soon to a theater near you? We shall see.