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Disneys returns to Never Land

© M. Fernandez Locklin

The story starts as World War II breaks out in England. A little girl must say good-bye to her soldier father. Take care of your mother and baby brother, he tells her. She nods; her childhood ends.

Jane now takes on the responsibility left her by her father. She leaves the toys and fantasies of the playroom behind to dodge bombshells with her dog, Nana II. This young girl has become a grown-up before her time; and in the bomb shelter, Wendy waits for her daughter and plays Peter Pan games with her toddler son.

So starts Disney's new feature "Return to Never Land."

One night, Wendy is notified that her children must be removed from the town, along with a trainload of other children, for their own safety. That's the night Jane professes she doesn't believe in Peter Pan. And that's the night she learns he is real.

Captain Hook has brought his pirate ship from Never Land to kidnap Wendy. Before she even has a chance to show her face, Hook's men have gagged Jane and enveloped her in a potato sack. Thinking he has the original bait for capturing his nemesis, he sails off between bombshells and returns to the second star to the right.

Once in Never Land, Peter Pan rescues the potato sack he believes holds Wendy. When he opens it, he is met with an angry punch. Jane wants to go home and she wants desperately not to believe in Peter Pan. That's when we learn how much she has grown too soon - despite being drenched in pixie dust, Jane can't fly. She can't think happy thoughts. She resists playing the Lost Boys' games, and the Lost Boys are more than happy to oblige. They leave her building a boat on the shore.

The boat sinks, but Jane continues to try to go home. Captain Hook takes the opportunity and makes a deal -- if Jane helps him find his long-lost treasure, he'll take Jane back home.

When Jane returns, the Lost Boys are forced to take her back; Jane has told Tinkerbell she does not believe in fairies. That angry negation sets in motion a spiral that forces the Lost Boys to teach Jane how to be a Lost Girl. She learns, but in the process helps Hook discover the treasure and capture Peter Pan.

Jane realizes, though, she's not ready to let go of Peter Pan and the childhood he represents. She saves Tinkerbell, the Lost Boys and Peter Pan. She saves her own childhood, as well - Jane learns to play; and she learns to fly.

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