Review // Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

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Tim Burton returns to the director’s chair to make amends for his production blunders with Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. Burton has been a huge influence on my childhood; I grew up cherishing his peculiar world view. From Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985) to Batman (1989) to Sleepy Hollow (1999) I adored the work of Tim Burton before I even knew who he was or what a director did. However, his more recent works (predominantly as a producer) have led to me instantly assigning another reviewer to cover his films. I entered Miss Peregrine’s screening with an open mind though – mostly because I think the screenwriter, Jane Goldman, is incredible. I recently read Ransom Riggs’ novel and while I didn’t like the book I still thought the story was intriguing enough to merit a film adaptation. Lo and behold, the film adaptation is far superior to the book.

Miss Peregrine’s begins in modern day, with protagonist Jacob Portman (Asa Butterflied) dealing with the grief of loosing his beloved grandfather, Abe (Terence Stamp). Jacob’s psychiatrist (Allison Janney) suggests that he should travel to his grandfather’s childhood home to find some closure. His father (Chris O’Dowd) reluctantly agrees to take Jacob to the small Welsh island Abe grew up on. Abe, a WW2 orphan, filled Jacob’s childhood with wild stories of life on the island with the other peculiar children under the care of Miss Peregrine (Eva Green), their teacher who could turn herself into a peregrine falcon. Now in his teens, Jacob had long dismissed the whimsy of his grandfathers stories but was still curious about Abe’s life.

While island locals inform Jacob and his father that the home was destroyed during the second world war, Jacob soon discovers that Miss Peregrine and those in her care have survived all these years thanks to a time loop that preserves the last day their house stood. Jacob is bewildered to meet the headmistress and the gifted children his grandfather had told him about. While they are unable to live in present day, the children and their headmistress are quite safe in 1940, that is until Jacob shows up and unknowingly leads their enemy Barron (Samuel L. Jackson) to the front door.

The big gripe I have with the film is the performances. I’m not a big fan of children in film but for the most part the young members of Miss Peregrine’s makeshift family were delightful, but Butterflied gave a lacklustre performance as an unremarkable lead while Green (who is usually on point) can’t seem to define her character. The mysterious nature of Miss Peregrine shouldn’t affect the actress playing her.

The magical adventure moves at a reasonable pace that even young viewers can keep up with. And it’s the young viewers who are the key here – the story, the themes, it’s all for them. While it’s decent enough for adults and parents to enjoy, the wonder will really be felt by young audiences. Goldman did a fantastic job of adapting the story into a visually exciting adventure with brilliant, whimsical set pieces that no one other than Burton could have brought to life in this darkly spectacular way.

I hope Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children kindles the wonder and imagination that Burton’s films once fostered in me. It was a fun watch and a good pick for families heading to the cinema this weekend.

Reviewed by Vithiya Murugadas.