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(About Our Ads) "RETURN TO NEVER LAND" (2002) (voices of Harriet Owen, Blayne Weaver) (G) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons None Minor Heavy *Moderate Moderate Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate None Heavy None None Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Minor None Moderate Moderate *Moderate QUICK TAKE: Animated Adventure: Captain Hook travels to London and kidnaps Wendy's daughter in order to trap the mother's old, but still boyish friend, Peter Pan. PLOT: It's London during WWII and Wendy (voice of KATH SOUCIE) is a married woman who enjoys recounting her tales of Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Never Land to her kids, Jane (voice of HARRIET OWEN) and Danny (voice of ANDREW McDONOUGH), to entertain and distract them as the city is bombed. Jane, now older and semi-independent, no longer believes any of the stories, as she's more focused on the fact that her father, Edward (voice of ROGER REES), has left for the War and that she and Danny are now to be sent off to the English countryside for their safety. Yet, Wendy realizes that her daughter needs something to believe in, just as much as her younger brother. That night, Jane hears sounds in her bedroom only to discover that none other than Captain Hook (voice of COREY BURTON), his first mate, Smee (voice of JEFF BENNETT) and their men have flown there in their ship, the Jolly Roger, to kidnap Wendy, but abduct her by mistake. Flying back to Never Land, Hook hopes to use his hostage to lure Peter Pan (voice of BLAYNE WEAVER) to his doom, but the young and rascally boy hero rescues Jane with the aid of pixie Tinkerbell and a huge octopus that's developed an appetite for Hook. Peter flies Jane off to meet the rest of the Lost Boys -- Cubby (voice of SPENCER BRESLIN), Nibs (voice of BRADLEY PIERCE), Slightly (voice of QUINN BESWICK), the Twins (voice of AARON SPANN) and Toodles - but she wants nothing to do with them and instead looks for a way back home. Unfortunately, for her, the only way out is to fly and her disbelief in Tinkerbell's pixie dust doesn't make things easier for her. Nor does it help Tinkerbell who slowly begins to lose her magical powers due to that skepticism. As Hook tries to persuade Jane to help him find the treasure that Peter Pan stole from him in exchange for a ride home, Peter Pan and the Lost Boys try to make Jane fit in so that she will believe and Tinkerbell will recover enough to send the young girl back home. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? It's a good bet many younger kids will want to see it. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: G For not containing material to warrant a higher rating. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: Although it's debatable whether kids see animated characters as role models, here's a quick look at their major characteristics. JANE is a rather independent and strong-willed young girl who suddenly finds herself in Never Land after stating she no longer believes in her mother's stories of the place. She must then figure out how to get home and deal with Hook's actions. PETER PAN is the young and adventurous hero who refuses to grow up or stop having fun. He also rescues and befriends Jane. CAPTAIN HOOK is the sometimes menacing, sometimes cowardly pirate who wants to do in Peter and get his treasure back. SMEE is his somewhat buffoonish first mate. WENDY is Jane and Danny's mother who's concerned about their well-being and likes to user her tales of Peter Pan to comfort and entertain them. DANNY is Jane's younger brother who still believes in Peter Pan and doesn't know what to make of all that's occurring around him. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a quick summary of the content found in this G-rated film. Like many other animated films, this one contains its share of violence, this time in the form of swordfights and related action, as well as characters seemingly being intent on harming and/or killing others. The backdrop of the beginning of the story is set in WWII London and involves some wartime violence (bombings), the results of that (bombed and burned out buildings) and the results on people (we see people hiding or cowering in fear). Accordingly, such scenes, and others involving some occasionally menacing looking characters, a monstrous octopus (that's played more for comedy), and a father being sent off to war and word that the kids will be sent off to the countryside without any parents may be unsettling, suspenseful or even downright scary to some younger viewers (all dependent, however, on their age, level of maturity and tolerance for such material). Several characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, a few colorful phrases are uttered, and some imitative behavior is present. Beyond that, however, the film's remaining categories have little or nothing in the way of other major objectionable content. Nevertheless, should you still be concerned about the film and its appropriateness for anyone in your home, we suggest that you take a closer look at our content listings for more detailed information. A vintage cartoon short, "Pluto's Fledgling," precedes the film and involves Pluto trying to help a small bird learn to fly. It contains some slapstick style material (Pluto smacking into or bouncing off things, etc.) as well as a brief scene where the little bird lands in the dog's water bowl and nearly drowns (but Pluto saves him). ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE None. BLOOD/GORE Peter and the lost boys spit into their own palms and then slap all of their hands together as a sign of unity. Later, Jane joins them in doing that. One of the lost boys loudly belches after accidentally swallowing Jane's journal. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Jane has a bit of both toward her mother and brother at times, as well as toward Peter Pan and his friends, but eventually comes around. Captain Hook and his men obviously have both for kidnapping Jane and trying to get their revenge on Peter Pan (and kill him). Tinkerbell is jealous of Jane for a while. FRIGHTENING SCENES Depending on a child's age, level of maturity and tolerance for such material, the following may or may not be unsettling, suspenseful or even scary to them. Set in London during WWII, we hear the sounds of warfare (bombings) and see the results of that (bombed out and/or burning buildings), but don't actually see any such warfare in person. One scene, however, has Jane running home as the air raid sirens go off and bombs land nearby (and she's nearly hit by some large trucks that zip by on the street). Meanwhile, Wendy and her young son are in a bomb shelter that shakes from the explosions and Danny is scared. Various sights of Hook and his menacing looking men might be scary or unsettling to some younger kids at times. As some suspenseful music plays, we see Captain Hook's ship loom above Jane's house, with some of its men rappelling down via ropes and carrying swords. We then see Hook's hook open Jane's window at night. She then awakens, and thinks no one is there, but Hook and his men are and kidnap her (putting her in a bag). As Hook and his men have Jane in a bag over a body of water, we see a giant and menacingly looking octopus headed up toward her. Hook then cuts the line holding her up, she falls in as the octopus approaches, and Peter Pan goes in after her (with all going below the surface so that we don't know what's happening as we only see a few bubbles floating up). While flying Jane around, Peter Pan purposefully lets her go and fall toward the ground (thinking it's fun) and then grabs her before she hits anything. The pirates descend down toward Jane and the others with their swords drawn and seize Peter and the lost boys. Tinkerbell is sick and collapses, and later appears to be dead (from having lost her magic) and Jane cries about that upon finding her (but Tinkerbell comes back to life and is no worse for the wear). We see that Hook has Peter Pan tied to an anchor and is preparing to run him off the plank (along with the rest of the lost boys). Some action scenes then follow where the kids prevail, but not before Hook pushes Jane back against a mast and puts his hook around her neck. GUNS/WEAPONS Animated swords/knives/canons/bat: Carried and/or used to threaten or attempt to injure or kill various characters. See "Violence" for details. Set in London during WWII, we hear the sounds of warfare (bombings) and see the results of that (bombed out and/or burning buildings), but don't actually see any such warfare in person. One scene, however, has Jane running home as the air raid sirens go off and bombs land nearby (while Wendy and her young son are in a bomb shelter that shakes from the explosions). We also see some bombers and fighters in different scenes, as well as some soldiers carrying rifles. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Oh, Poppycock," "You old codfish," "You worthless dogs" and "Put a cork in it." Jane and Danny stick their tongues at each other. Tinkerbell blows a raspberry at Hook and his men. Peter and the lost boys spit into their own palms and then slap all of their hands together as a sign of unity. Later, Jane joins them in doing that. Peter and the lost boys play keep away from Jane with her journal. One of the lost boys loudly belches after accidentally swallowing Jane's journal. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A heavy amount of suspenseful, ominous and occasionally adventurous music plays during the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY None. SEX/NUDITY Some briefly seen mermaids wear small patches of material across their breasts (but we don't see any related "skin" or much of womanly shapes). SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Jane and her family react to her father going off to war. The kids later learn that they're to be sent off to the English countryside (and thus out of harm's way) and aren't happy about that. Jane misses her family and cries about that while in Never Land (in just one scene). TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT WWII. The kids being sent off to the English countryside without their parents. Believing in fictional characters such as Peter Pan, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, etc. What the X's on the windows are for (to keep the glass from blasting into a room in case the windows break during wartime). Jane's decision not to betray Peter and his friends to get passage back home with Hook. VIOLENCE The following obviously occurs in cartoon form and most of what's listed plays out in an adventurous rather than graphic/realistic fashion. Set in London during WWII, we hear the sounds of warfare (bombings) and see the results of that (bombed out and/or burning buildings), but don't actually see any such warfare in person. One scene, however, has Jane running home as the air raid sirens go off and bombs land nearby (while Wendy and her young son are in a bomb shelter that shakes from the explosions). Peter Pan and Captain Hook briefly engage in some sword fighting, with Tinkerbell then punching Hook in the nose. The anchor from Hook's ship tears up the street, knocks a car over and causes other property damage. Hook's men shoot canon balls at Peter Pan and one of the men repeatedly swings a bat at him, but Peter Pan easily avoids all of that. Peter Pan then whacks that man with the bat, sending him flying into some netting that bends and then shoots that man into others, knocking them down. Hook and Peter Pan then get into a brief sword vs. knife fight before Hook cuts a line holding Jane (enclosed in a bag) and she falls into the water. Hook smacks Smee with his hook, apparently knocking him unconscious. Tinkerbell causes a giant octopus to float up through the air and then drop onto Hook, briefly having him in his mouth. The octopus then goes after Hook (played in a comically adventurous rather than monstrously scary fashion), grabbing him. When Peter Pan releases Jane from her bag, she punches him in the face (not knowing it was him who saved her). Hook's men fire more cannonballs at Peter Pan and Jane as they fly away. One of the lost boys shoots a toy arrow that causes a bucket to fall on another lost boy's head. Someone then bops the top of that, causing it go further down his head/neck. Smee gives Hook a tough massage/work over, stepping on his back and cracking his neck quite hard. Jane's sneeze knocks Tinkerbell back and causes her to ricochet back and forth between people. Jane comically falls to the ground and creates a deep hole in the shape of her body. Peter takes a small club and playfully hits one of the lost boys on the head with it (causing a typical, exaggerated cartoon bump to rise up from that spot). Hook cuts a rope that sends Peter (tied to a large anchor) crashing to the deck of Hook's ship, while we see that he has the lost boys collectively tied to the mast. Various pirates briefly threaten Peter with their swords, but one boy shoots a diamond at one, hitting him (and distracting the others). Two twins also trip another pirate who crashes to the deck. Smee hits Hook on the head with an oar (briefly knocking him out/silly) while trying to help him get Tinkerbell out of his clothes (she's flying around inside them). Hook tries to hit Tinkerbell several times with his sword, but misses. Hook pushes Jane back against a mast and puts his hook around her neck, but Hook is then yanked down through the boat's various decks and out of the bottom into the sea. The giant octopus is then after Hook, with Hook smashing into various things as he tries to get away, and the boat then capsizes and goes below the surface (but he gets away with his men). Reviewed February 9, 2002 / Posted February 15, 2002