Peter Pan Live!
  • Network: NBC
  • Series Premiere Date: Dec 4, 2014
User Score
3.8

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 26 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 26
  3. Negative: 14 out of 26

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User Reviews

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  1. BogKid
    Dec 5, 2014
    5
    I couldn't sit through the entire length of this musical play. I do remember watching the Mary Martin TV version many, many years ago. I think my memory of that event is probably clouded by the uniqueness of the show back in the 1950s. Mary Martin, not entirely surprisingly, nailed the part. The young Ms. Williams tried very hard but I detected little "magic" there. Christopher WalkenI couldn't sit through the entire length of this musical play. I do remember watching the Mary Martin TV version many, many years ago. I think my memory of that event is probably clouded by the uniqueness of the show back in the 1950s. Mary Martin, not entirely surprisingly, nailed the part. The young Ms. Williams tried very hard but I detected little "magic" there. Christopher Walken is one of my all-time favorites but I really felt that he was going through his paces with little to no animation. Christopher is no kid anymore and I thought I could detect a sore knee and/or an aging muscle here and there in his movements. Anybody remember the extraordinary Cyril Ritchard in this part?

    I applaud NBCs efforts here. I really think dropping the unnecessary "LIVE" aspect of these annual shows could do nothing but help them. I don't care if a show is "live" and I certainly don't sit around looking for "live" mistakes or bloopers. Good production values trump "live"!    … Expand
  2. Bgrod
    Dec 7, 2014
    2
    Any children forced to watch this for 3 hours must have been very, very bad. Williams was just adequate as the peter-less Pan, seemingly midway through the gender reassignment surgery, but delivered an overall flat performance lacking Peter Pan's boyish enthusiasm. Walken was sleep walkin' his way through a Neverland set that looked like a peacock had exploded, dazed and confused asAny children forced to watch this for 3 hours must have been very, very bad. Williams was just adequate as the peter-less Pan, seemingly midway through the gender reassignment surgery, but delivered an overall flat performance lacking Peter Pan's boyish enthusiasm. Walken was sleep walkin' his way through a Neverland set that looked like a peacock had exploded, dazed and confused as usual, doing his best Christopher Walken SNL impersonation. His Hook was dressed like an extra from the King and I. Props to his makeup crew which used no restraint whatsoever in applying the white powder. The live aspect of this production obviously is a gimmick to encourage live viewing and the now obligatory live tweeting but it lent nothing to the experience, especially with the ubiquitous and very jarring and clunky commercial interruptions.. Way too long, way too boring, cheesy looking Sid and Marty Kroftt like sets and dull performances from everyone except Wendy. C- grade.… Expand
  3. Lasto
    Dec 5, 2014
    0
    It was amazing at just how awful this show was. From that cringe worthy "crow" to the Lost Grown Men. The only natural actor that came from this disaster was Nana.
  4. hotfromcauldron
    Dec 4, 2014
    2
    Of course Peter Pan won't grow up - he's been castrated! In a role made for Justin Bieber- Williams butches up with a sweet voice, while Walken's Hook gets in touch with his feminine side doing Rex Harrison. The Darling's drop into an island raining lost boys men , dancing pirates and prancing Indians --where Wendy wears her heart on her sleeve and a kiss is a thimble. Is it any wonderOf course Peter Pan won't grow up - he's been castrated! In a role made for Justin Bieber- Williams butches up with a sweet voice, while Walken's Hook gets in touch with his feminine side doing Rex Harrison. The Darling's drop into an island raining lost boys men , dancing pirates and prancing Indians --where Wendy wears her heart on her sleeve and a kiss is a thimble. Is it any wonder during a Walmart commercial Sabrina asked her husband why he's playing with a fairy. I believe in musical theatre so I hope it lives on. But this killed three hours of my time.… Expand
  5. DaveDaRave
    Dec 4, 2014
    0
    Godawful, doomed effort to recapture the live TV magic of the 1950s Mary Martin original. Flat as can be, and dead on arrival. Not a single one of the actors shines. Too bad, was hoping for a winner.
  6. Whitehorse
    Dec 7, 2014
    0
    Peter Pan Dead not live! A disappointing and lackluster performance. Walken transformed Hook into Walken rather than Walken morphing into Hook. Williams just couldn't get a spark going and Tiger Lily looked too "edgy" and angry --definitely was miscast but at least she tried to infuse some energy. Speaking of that, the leads looked like they could all use a shot of B-12. The supportingPeter Pan Dead not live! A disappointing and lackluster performance. Walken transformed Hook into Walken rather than Walken morphing into Hook. Williams just couldn't get a spark going and Tiger Lily looked too "edgy" and angry --definitely was miscast but at least she tried to infuse some energy. Speaking of that, the leads looked like they could all use a shot of B-12. The supporting cast carried the day and were excellent, but unfortunately they served as a contrast and made us even more aware that the lackluster leads were being out-shined. I SO agree with Dave that anyone who is satisfied by this performance could not possibly have been around in the Mary Martin era. Huge disappointment and very boring. As far as Carrie Underwood goes, she really is not an actress and although Broadway is trying to drum up business by having stars perform lead roles, it is all the more important to have enough talent to project on TV. NBC don't give up just get better!… Expand
  7. sandravh
    Dec 4, 2014
    10
    This was a fantastic recreation of a Broadway classic. Allison Williams was brilliant, and Christopher Walken played Hook with just enough camp to make it hilarious. Well done NBC!!!
  8. Beowulf4862
    Dec 8, 2014
    6
    It was okay. Neither as bad as I'd feared, nor as good as I hoped for. I can't decide if Christopher Walken's performance was a mistake or brilliant. I know he wanted to dance, but, at 72, pack it in, Chris.

    This was an extremely gay show, and I don't mean that as an insult. It was just...gay. Ms. Williams was certainly an attractive boy. Nana, of course, stole the show!
  9. likeitis
    Dec 16, 2014
    1
    NEPOTISM at the EXTREME!!!!! How many truly TALENTED were overlooked for the part of Peter Pan???
    Is Daddy is trying to buy her a career!!!!!??????
  10. Lagamedog
    Mar 4, 2015
    4
    I started watching this to see how well it was going to be. By the second hour, it started to drag on. The singer was good and dance was very good mostly on the ship part.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
55

Mixed or average reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 21
  3. Negative: 1 out of 21
  1. Sioux City Journal
    Reviewed by: Bruce Miller
    Dec 8, 2014
    40
    Dull, sluggish and frequently lost, Walken had none of the spark you’d expect from the “swiniest swine in the world.”... Allison William’s Peter Pan was more successful but only because she took a very straightforward approach to a role that should have been bubbling with life.
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  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Melissa Maerz
    Dec 5, 2014
    67
    It was... fine. Totally fine. Just as I'd suspected. Nothing spectacular. But nothing so embarrassing as NBC’s live production of The Sound of Music.
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  3. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Joel Brown
    Dec 5, 2014
    60
    NBC’s Peter Pan Live! on Thursday night was endlessly, weirdly watchable, which is not the same thing as a coherent artistic triumph. But on balance television needs more of this kind of daring.
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