“Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children,” a hotly anticipated “Alice in Wonderland”-esque supernatural fantasy film, was released on Sept. 30 to theaters across America. The movie, based on the novel of the same name by Ransom Riggs, is engrossing and visually appealing, but struggles with lackluster acting and sparse and two-dimensional character development.
“Miss Peregrine” centers around a house full of children with unusual powers, such as prophetic dreams and superhuman strength; they are led by headmistress Miss Peregrine, who has the ability to both turn into a bird and manipulate time. The movie’s protagonist, Jake, finds these children while on a quest to learn about his grandfather’s mysterious past.
The movie’s scenery is intricately detailed with no shortage of long-panning shots of the children’s home itself. Dark, dimly-lit rooms filled with scene-specific, creepy, atmospheric details and to the visual spectacle. However, the characters playing out Riggs’ storyline clearly fall short of what was intended.
For example, lack of the inner monologue that was present in the book, Jake’s character comes off as boring and unimaginative — rather than curious and quick-witted — which is not improved by Asa Butterfield’s portrayal of the character. Many important lines fall flat with his subpar performance, and his unrelenting, constant facial expression contributes nothing to the movie’s most emotional or action-packed scenes.
Still worse is Emma, Jake’s generic pretty blonde love interest. Even in the novel, the romance between the two is forced. Perhaps the filmmakers recognized this, as Emma seems to be feminized as much as possible in the film in order to make her a more “suitable” match for Jake. They attempt to whittle her character down from a dynamic, determined young woman to the cookie-cutter placid, compliant female stereotype that is so commonly portrayed in Hollywood films.
In the book, Emma is feisty and strong-willed, and distrusts Jake from the beginning because of his status as an outsider. She even wields all the calamitous powers of fire, which reflects her intense personality; her determination and unpredictability mirror the ever-changing quality of a flame. In contrast, the movie’s version of Emma is a mild-mannered, calm young lady who never quarrels with anyone, and whose destructive abilities are replaced with the more peaceful levitation and miscellaneous control over air. Instead of initially being suspicious of Jake, she accepts him immediately, and barely clashes with him at all throughout the film.
Despite the filmmakers’ efforts, Jake and Emma’s relationship still ends up feeling one-dimensional; chemistry between the two remains nonexistent throughout the film. Even more unpalatable is the movie’s strong implication that Emma was romantically involved with Jake’s grandfather years ago, which feels rather inappropriate and bizarre.
A much more compelling romance does, thankfully, blossom throughout Miss Peregrine. Enoch, who has the ability to take life from one thing and bestow it upon another, and Olive, who seems to have inherited Emma’s control over fire, realize their love for each other towards the end of the film. Unlike Jake and Emma, who are forced into a relationship out of obligation to the storyline of “Miss Peregrine,” Enoch and Olive are friends whose relationship grows organically and smoothly.
Apart from the characters, the movie’s plot is engaging and action-packed, if not a bit convoluted. Audience members who did not read the novel beforehand might have had some trouble understanding all the minute twists and turns of the story, though its broader strokes are clearly laid out for everyone. “Miss Peregrine’s” soundtrack also plays a large part in the movie’s success, effectively accentuating the most suspenseful scenes with well-timed swells and eerie minor chords.
Overall, “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” is visually and conceptually enthralling, but falls short when it comes to character portrayal and acting.
Unfortunately, Emma’s fiery personality is not captured in the film as it is in the book. Her complacency as the love interest of Jake, who is equally bland and uninspiring, highlights the overall shortcoming of “Miss Peregrine” when it comes to meaningful character development.
