Peter Pan and Wendy: Why Change a Classic post written by the Ent and the Elf. This post contains affiliate links, you can find out more on our policies page or in the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog. Posters in images both from Disney.
Know Before You Watch
Movie: Peter Pan and Wendy
Rating: PG
Genre: Action, Adventure
Length: 1 hr. 46 mins.
Age suggested:
Release Date: April 28th, 2023
Warnings: Mild Peril and Violence, Large crocodile that can definitely scare kids.
Check out our post on ‘Can my Kids Watch Peter Pan and Wendy’ for our full review and more on whether or not it would be an appropriate watch for your family.
Why do we go back and edit or change ‘classics’?
For me there are two reasons. The first is for the same reason that people are still adapting Shakespeare stories. Because it’s a great story that still appeals to people, but would be more enjoyable in a less outdated form that is easier to understand. Even modern adaptions that still use SOME Shakespearian language like Much Ado About Nothing still modernize the story.
The second main reason is to update them. In the case of the Peter Pan and Wendy changes- both reasons apply, and the new adaption is being trolled because of it.
We see this far too frequently with any adaption or sequel that is diverse or more inclusive. Adaption or original. Because racism, ableism, and many other harmful prejudices are still such an issue is 2023. Reviews come pouring in before the release, or the second it releases, from people and bots that have never seen the movie.
Here’s 5 Peter Pan and Wendy Changes that Were Necessary and Well Done
1) The Pace
While the movie was still a little slower paced than I was anticipating- still, it was much more engaging than the animated Disney original. The animated movie is SEVENTY years old, so of course it is going to be much, much slower. The action really picks up towards the end of the movie though. The other thing that really impacts the spped of the movie is that there are not a lot of comedic, lighter, moments like there are in many other adaptions, even in darker ones like Hook.
2) The Family Dynamics
Parents don’t have to be constantly awful for kids (and parents) to freak out about growing up. Growing up is just hard. Also, the parents don’t hire a dog to look after the kids. Having a loving, happy, family just helps the story make a little bit more sense when Wendy and the kids decide they WANT to go home. And the family accepts new children so quickly.
The other massive family dynamic Peter Pan and Wendy changes were the Neverland ones. Wendy didn’t convince Peter Pan to take her back, he came looking for her. And not as a mother to the lost boys, but as a story teller. The original has some Freudian mom issues going on, and this adaption works to fix that. Also the relationship between Pan and Hook is one of a fractured friendship and embittered betrayal. Hook is obsessed with his awful childhood and Pan is desperately afraid to let go of his childhood.
Why Change a Classic? Continue reading
3) The Native Cultural Inaccuracies
The portrayal of the native American characters in the animated cartoon was racist and disrespectful. And when you REALIZE something is wrong and disrespectful, the respectful thing to do is to CHANGE it. And they did. Alyssa Wapanatahk not only played Tiger Lilly in the movie but was part of the cultural consultant team on the film. She has Cree heritage and speaks in Cree several times in the movie. Not only is Tiger Lily more culturally respectful, she’s a strong female leader.
For more information about these innaccuracies, check out this Time Article. You can also check out this interview with Alyssa Wapanatahk where she discuss the role she plays in Peter Pan and Wendy.
4) Wendy Doesn’t Need to be Rescued
Wendy and Peter clash from the start. And while they both realize that they need help in different spots in the story, Wendy isn’t a helpless kid. And all the women and girls in the story aren’t helpless without a guys help. Wendy is really the lead in this story, even the book was titled Peter Pan and Wendy for a while! She’s the one that goes on the main adventure on the story and experiences all the character growth. This version gives both leads a little bit of a stronger storyline- which makes sense considering the first one was a 1953 cartoon. This was one of the more subtle but more impactful Peter Pan and Wendy changes.
5) More People are Represented
When Wendy gets to Neverland and meets the lost boys, she says something to the effect of ‘but you’re not all boys’ and one of the girls pipes up, ‘so?’. And Wendy says it doesn’t actually matter. And then they MOVE ON WITH THE STORY. And the audience should do the same. It’s a beautiful thing that girls are represented as strong characters in this movie.
Having a lost boy with Down Syndrome is not only a wonderful mirror for kids that can relate but also a lesson for kids who cannot relate directly to that- inclusion should be normal and good. Yara Shahidi is a fantastic actress and did a fabulous job as Tinkerbell. Having more characters that were different ethnicities was beautiful.
Continue reading to find Why Change a Classic Section.
Peter Pan and Wendy Changes Overview
I thought these changes were all well done. This adaption is my current favorite, and one of our favorite live action Disney remakes. Jeremy Sumpter, Julia Roberts, Robin Williams, and more still have iconic roles and adaptions. But they’re also made in a different time for different audiences. For example, Hook is more moving to me, but Hook is an adult aimed film and this adaption is not.
Peter Pan and Wendy is a very well done film. Excellent adaption of the story.
The biggest change to the plot from the cartoon to the live action remake is the friendship between Pan and Hook. And what a relatable change that is right now culturally as so many people have cut ties bitterly with friends and family.
These are not the only changes in between the 1953 adaption of the novel and the 2023 adaption or changes from the original book/source material. But these were the five that stood out to me the most.
If you really want a Tinkerbell that is white, lost boys that are all male and piggish, characters with no visible disabilities, and weak female characters… OK. No one is taking that away from you. You have over a dozen adaptions to pick from. Also, this movie is still overwhelmingly led by a white cast. But rac_st, s_xist trolls don’t actually take the time to watch or read the things they fear…. Like children’s movies and books that are being banned.
The Peter Pan and Wendy changes are a lot more minor than the troll review bombers make them out to be. For a movie about growing up, it has certainly revealed a lot of immaturity.
So Why Change a Classic?!
Disney started making these live action remakes because their fanbase grew up. So how fitting it is that we’re talking about adaptions of classics in terms of the Peter Pan and Wendy changes- arguably the biggest coming of age story Disney has done.
Why change and adapt classics?! Because the stories are so good that they can grow and evolve with us.
They can be updated to engage a brand new age range. We can reimagine them in new ways that appeal to and represent more people. As we grow up, we see things differently. Learn from new people and ideas. But Disney and Peter Pan remind us of a very important lesson about growing up and evolving- you are never too old to be kind, imaginative, friendly and adaptive.
Peter Pan and Wendy 2023 is worth watching. AND if you do watch it, take a few seconds to review it on a review site or social media please. Don’t read the negative reviews. Make a positive one, like another positive one and then exit out before you see the depressing comments. Check out our post on ‘Can my Kids Watch Peter Pan and Wendy’ for more on whether or not it would be an appropriate watch for your family. There’s big trigger warnings for foster/adoptive caregivers and some scary images.
Thanks for reading our Peter Pan and Wendy: Why Change a Classic Post. Check out some related content here:
–Full Peter Pan and Wendy Parent Review
–What makes the 2022 Pinocchio different?
–The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse Book and Movie
–Strange World- Why the Reviews Were Wrong
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