While many sights are set on the live-action remake of THE LITTLE MERMAID hitting theaters in a month, a more unassuming re-adaptation is actually available now on Disney+ and the surprising thing is, it’s acutally pretty good! PETER PAN & WENDY is a delightful re-imagining of the world of J.M. Barrie styled through the lens of the 1953 animated Disney classic.

PETER PAN & WENDY is a fantastical romp to Never Land not unlike the countless versions we’ve seen before so what make this one different? Aside from subtle nods to the animated classic through musical cues, there’s an absolutely gorgeous production design making this a feast for the eyes. Plus, there’s some fun story changes to keep you interested and entertained.

Music is a surprisingly larger part than expected and plays an important role in the development of the story for several characters. While this adaptation is not inherently musical, fans of the original animated tale will find several homages to the past and there’s also a surprising number of songs here despite the film not being a traditional musical film.

One commendable facet are the relationships that director David Lowery explores between various characters. The story fleshes out the relationship between not just Peter Pan (Alexander Molony) and Hook (Jude Law) but also between the nefarious Captain and his first mate Mr. Smee. (Jim Gaffigan). The changes are fun and natural and certainly nothing that should send purists to clutching of their pearls; in fact, a lot is implied and done without words. Perhaps the most pivotal relationship growth is that between Pan and his titular co-star, Wendy Moira Angela Darling (Ever Anderson). The two share equal weight in the heart of the story and without knowing it, end up affecting the each other’s life in unexpected and meaningful ways by the end of the film.

Perhaps the biggest strengths are the absolutely sumptuous visuals. From the confined spaces of the immaculate Darling home in London to the stunning sprawling wilds of Never Land, the world of the boy who never grew up looks truly cinematic. Still, while the cinematography here is to be commended, one thing that is so often missing from many adaptations of this work (aside from there never being enough mermaids) is a slightly missing component of the ADVENTURE. Never Land is supposed to be the ultimate kid’s playground and while amazing adventures are hinted at, we never fully dive into it here — it’s missing a sense of…, let’s call it “bangarang.”

Still, there’s a lot to love here. Tinker Bell (Yara Shahidi) may have had her fiery spirit tamed a bit but she’s not without her trademark temper — the main notes for the petulant pixie are that her CG never felt truly convincingly integrated. Other standouts are the resourceful Tiger Lilly (Alyssa Wapanatâhk) who plays a more integral role in the story and the Lost Boys (and girls) who make up Peter’s flock. Nibs (Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez) and Slightly (Noah Matthews Matofsky) steal the scenes that they’re in but the whole ensemble is a delightful rag-tag group.

There have been so many retellings of this story that it’s hard to rank any particular one as quintessential viewing but we were very pleasantly surprised by PETER PAN & WENDY. For us, this one definitely ranks on the top half of live-action adaptations. It’s a fun romp and even worth renting a month of Disney+ if you aren’t already a subscriber.

See it for Yourself

PETER PAN & WENDY is now available on Disney+.