Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Eva Green, Samuel L. Jackson, Allison Janney, Asa Butterfield, Ella Purnell, Judi Dench
Rating: 12A
Running Time: 126 minutes
Released Date: 29 Sept, 2016
If you mix a bit of X-MEN, with some GROUNDHOG DAY and a dash of MARY POPPINS, give it a quick stir of Gothic moodiness and before you know it you have Tim Burton’s MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, these are all good films and for the first time in a long time, I can actually admit to enjoying one of Burton’s films.
Burton had some pretty solid source material in the form of Ransom Rigg’s novel of the same name. Jane Goldman’s on hand with the screenplay, which keeps this film from diverting off into Gothic obscurities and over the top performances. MISS PEREGRINE is of equal measure in its peculiarities that gives it that Tim Burton quirkiness without throwing the audience off too much.
Burton’s film follows Jacob ‘Jake’ Portman (the slightly monotone Asa Butterfield), whose grandfather Abe (Terrence Stump) mysteriously dies at the start of the film. Jake becomes determined to find out more about the stories his grandfather told him about the Peculiar children. He leaves Florida in pursuit of the children’s home he’s heard so much about.
Eva Green (CASINO ROYALE and PENNYDREADFUL) is the pipe smoking and cross bow wielding Miss Peregrine who protects and looks over the Peculiar children. An invisible boy, a girl with two jaws and a boy that can re-animate inanimate objects are just a few of their peculiarities – they’re clearly vulnerable children.
The home is a safe haven for the children, forever stuck on September 3rd 1943 reliving the same day again and again, a bit like GROUNDHOG DAY. The time loop has protected the children for over 70 years, but now their safety is threatened by Mister Barron. The eyeball eating Samuel L. Jackson (THE HATEFUL EIGHT and THE LEGEND OF TARZAN) villain of the film.
MISS PEREGRINE is littered with nods to Burton’s previous films, such as EDWARD SCISSORHANDS and BIG FISH, but also draws on influences from the young adult genre. From first love teen awkwardness with Jake and Emma (Ella Purnell, KICK-ASS 2) to HARRY POTTER type scares from the giant, tentacled Hallowgasts.
Burton gives us what we’d expect to see from him, imagination, creativity and some pretty impressive set pieces. The underwater hide out that Emma creates and watching the time loop reverse itself are visually impressive scenes.
But please don’t get me wrong, there are times when the narrative gets a bit bogged down by all the time loops. The first hour and a half spends a lot of time going over these time loops with Asa Butterfield occasionally raising his eyebrows or gasping in shock. Sometimes it feels a bit wooden, he’s dull in comparison to the other eccentric characters. He only really comes out of his shell in the last 45 minutes.
When we’re introduced to the Hallows and Mister Barron, things really get going. Jackson brings a sarcastic humour to the film, despite the fact he’s trying to eat everyone’s eyeballs. He’s an uplifting addition to MISS PEREGRINE who really spurs the action on. The last sequence of MISS PEREGRINE leaves you wanting more and I can’t help but think Burton’s got a sequel up his sleeve.
Overall, MISS PEREGRINE isn’t perfect, but it’s an enjoyable film to watch, sit back and relax with a bowl of popcorn… or maybe some eyeballs?
Verdict
