Review of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016) by Kyle H — 14 Oct 2016

I suppose I should begin with a disclaimer that I have not read the source material which MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN is based on - my evaluation may only come the standpoint of someone who has had mere exposure to Burton's movie iteration. Those who know me well are probably already aware that, like many peers in my age-group, I have gleaned much artistic inspiration from the early work of Tim Burton (Beetlejuice, Batman, Batman Returns, and, more recently, Sweeney Todd are all among my favorite movies of all time). I also acknowledge that some of Burton's recent work has been less interesting in execution than it was in concept. Bearing this in mind, I stipulate that Burton's most recent picture - MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN - has a few obvious (and I mean OBVIOUS) problems. I rolled my eyes - both literally and metaphorically - repeatedly during the first half hour of the movie because of the cliché dialogue and the so-obvious-its-boring exposition. Much of the CGI is also badly contrasted with the otherwise realistic environments and is jarring enough to potentially break the audience out of the story and stop suspending their disbelief. Sometimes the aesthetics of the picture just don't work.

On the other hand, I liked the movie anyway. Even though the CG is bad and the script is convoluted and occasionally cliché, it is difficult - at least for fans of Burton - not to revel in oddities of the story and the playfulness of Burton's treatment of the material. The movie is fun. And it is also creepy. And, therefore, it feels exceptionally, delightfully Burton-esque. Here's a few things to like about the picture: although finding a precise "meaning" of the text may require some effort, it is clearly about the importance of peculiarities. This theme is undoubtedly open to interpretation, but it meets a need for discussion regarding diversity and balancing individualism with group identity. That is, the movie begins to inquire about what it means to be consistent person while living in a post-modern world. I would have liked for Burton to have offered some concrete answers, but, alas, the audience is left to search for conclusions / arguments elsewhere.

Another high point is the retro-mythic elements of the narrative. Burton not only takes us back to an earlier time period in the movie, he is sometimes able to reuse earlier modes of filmmaking and story-telling. Specifically, "Peregrine" plays out like a bedtime story featuring clever, but vulnerable children, strange and slinky monsters, and a wise mentor / guardian. The myth recalls Victor Hugo stories in which marginalized and/or excluded peoples must seek refuge from "normal" peoples and the labels of "person" and "monster" are hard to place. (This theme may have been more distinct and effective to contemporary audiences if more people of color were included in the cast, though.) Burton relishes this narrative structure and the opportunity to exaggerate the strangeness of normalcy. Ultimately, the "peculiar" characters either become stronger and more empathetic because of their experiences or they transform into the monsters they fear... (As an aside, these monstrous creatures are sometimes portrayed through claymation, recalling Burton's more acclaimed previous work.).

The last high point that I will mention is Eva Green's excellent turn as the titular Miss Peregrine. Her performance was also the standout in Burton's awful reinterpretation of DARK SHADOWS. Green seems to work incredibly well with Burton, which, in my opinion, is because of her willingness to embrace weird worlds as normal while keeping her characters grounded in real stakes and emotions. Miss Peregrine has limited screen time in the movie, but Green makes every moment count - she has a stern exterior and is extremely strict and precise; but, Green also lets Peregrine's "mask" slip enough that we can see her vulnerabilities and understand her deeply rooted care for the peculiar children she takes responsibility for.

Ultimately, I felt as if "Peregrine" is more triumph than failure for Burton - it will not sit well with everyone, but it may be a lot of fun for fans of Burton and it has enough stylistic, philosophical, and performative gems to be entertaining and thought provoking (even if only vaguely).