Film: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

GENRE: Drama, Biography

RATING: PG for a brief fight and mild language
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 48 minutes

STARRING: Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Big)

Matthew Rhys (The Americans), Susan Kelechi Watson (This Is Us)

DIRECTOR: Marielle Heller (Can You Ever Forgive Me?)

WRITERS: Micah Fitzerman-Blue & Noah Harpster (newcomers)

PLOT: Based on a true story, a cynical journalist is sent to do a story on Fred Rogers and a friendship ensues.      

FULL DISCLOSURE: I used to love Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood.

STORY STUFF: Whenever they showed people reacting to meeting Mister Rogers for the first time, it brought a huge smile to my face. There’s a reverence, a giddiness, a need to pay homage to a man who helped so many children understand tough issues. I absolutely loved all the interactions with Fred Rogers, but the movie is not just about him. It’s actually more about Lloyd Vogel (a placeholder for real-life Esquire journalist Tom Junod) and his family issues while interviewing the television icon. The pacing does drag a bit at times, but watching Tom Hanks channel Fred Rogers is worth the wait.

ACTING STUFF: A reviewer has said that ‘Hanks was born to play this role.’ While Hanks has played many memorable characters, this real person – Fred Rogers, will go down as the perfecting casting choice. He plays the gentleness and warmth so well. I did find, however, that he sometimes looked a little too serious – like he was concentrating on embodying Mr. Rogers – and missed the twinkle in his eye. Rhys plays the reporter well, but I still think of him as Philip Jennings from The Americans (as well as Watson’s Beth Pearson from This Is Us). I didn’t know Chris Cooper was in this, playing Lloyd’s father. He always brings a powerful performance. But it’s Hanks that keeps you glued to the screen.

ARTISTIC STUFF: At first, I was concerned that my theatre was messing around with the screen size but then clued in that sections involving the famous Mr. Roger’s models were on a smaller scale (no pun intended) than the rest of movie. I enjoyed the use of models as establishing shots throughout. There is not much to say about the artistry of the film except that the set is nostalgically accurate. Also the final shot is artsy and interesting as Mr. Rogers plays the piano.   

VERDICT: Four stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You want big smiles and are not creeped out by puppets

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Knives Out