If anything, Tim Burton's "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" is likely to cause a lengthy discussion after the film, particularly if you have read the book. My two friends who joined me for the movie have been in a heated back-and-forth discussing the flaws and changes made from Ransom Riggs' book to screen. Apparently there were quite a few.
If you're like me and did not do your homework before seeing the movie you will likely not find any sustainable interest in Burton's latest flick. The movie is alienating to those not familiar with the peculiar, keeping us at an arm's length about the story's mythology. It expects us to know already.
The plot, boiled down to its simplest form, should sound familiar because its central themes have been seen many times. Jacob's (Asa Butterfield) grandfather (Terrence Stamp) has recently passed away under mysterious circumstances and Jacob wants to track down a home that his grandfather often spoke about when telling him of his adventures. His father (Chris O'Dowd) hesitantly takes him on this adventure, though he has no interest in spending time with his son.
Jacob goes off and does his own thing while dad snaps a few photos of birds and drinks with the locals. He eventually stumbles upon the home, which is populated by the peculiars, whose oddities range from bees flying from one's mouth to setting fire with the touch of a hand. The home is led by Miss Peregrine, (Eva Green, the film's saving grace), who runs a strict household but cares deeply for the children.
The peculiars must team up to fight off Mr. Barron (Samuel L. Jackson, hamming it up as only Samuel L. Jackson can do) and his team of eye-gouging monsters. If your interest in any point wavers - and it will - you might miss some of the plot points on the way to the inevitable showdown of good vs. evil. Once we finally get there, it seems like it's all over in a blink of an eye, which is surprising because everything that came before that drags.
As our requisite straight-faced hero, Butterfield is distractingly flat. From his presence to his delivery, the young actor seems wholly aloof. There's none of the magic and spark he brought to roles when he was younger in movies like "Hugo," and this film could use a shot of spark.
Ultimately, "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" really isn't all that peculiar. It borrows heavily from "Harry Potter" and "X-Men," with a dash of "Looper" and various time travel movies and Burton can't save the day by adding his own brand of weirdness.
Normally, this is the point where I would say, "If you read the book then go see the movie," but from what I heard after the movie, you should probably just stay away all together.
| Movie title | Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2016 |
| MPAA Rating | PG-13 |
| Our rating | |
| Summary | As peculiar as it may be, Tim Burton's adaptation of the Ransom Riggs' novel holds little of interest, particularly to those who haven't read the book. |
