Return to Neverland

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Joel McNeely is easily one of Hollywood's forgotten talents. Since forever people have seen him as the next John Williams and the one that holds the candle when it concerns that special touch of movie music magic. Yet, unlike Williams it is McNeely's habit of getting attached to movies that basically stink or when they are decent to good, are vanished without a trace from the theatres. I can consider then also Return to Never Land, the long lost tale of Peter Pan to be more then a success. And I could say the same about the score on disc. While still animated in pace and in structure, sometimes the Williams touch or heavenly work of thematic voice makes the score click with fans of the style. This is basically not a new piece of animated wisdom (like for instance Atlantis) but is way better then other scores in its genre (Space Jam or Who Framed Roger Rabbit). At least that is the positive sign. One of the other welcome surprises is the fact that there is enough score to warrant a proper release sale. Yet, as any animated score we have the basic returning signals, such as the main pop songs, the animated style sing a long songs which are scattered around the score and the usual use of Mickey Mouse scoring. Together, it actually hurts the listening experience but you can't deny there is a tone of brilliance waiting around a corner of 5, 6, 7, ... heck even count them yourself.

Let me start by saying, the songs are decent but that is basically it. 'Second Star to the Right' has a short "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" moment which is basically the only thing to remember of it and 'I'll Try' is for better or worse the best of the three, which contains the better musical tone but on the other hand repeats the main title name like forever, which makes it regrettably for its nature quite frustrating. I will skip the first since it feels horribly out of place. Of the sing a long songs I can also be frank, they will listen like a hoot in the film but are so over the top that it distracts the rest of McNeely's score. Even a 20 second one can abruptly distress you. Of that original score, we have surprisingly an abundance of themes. We have in fact a lot of them already in the first track, score that is of course. 'Main Title' uses I think in order the Disney logo theme, Tink's theme, the Crocodile theme, Hook's theme, The Lost Boys' theme and the main Peter Pan theme. All very briefly but it is a nice summarization of McNeely's handiwork. And then I'm even forgetting the other theme, for McNeely the most important factor of the movie, meaning the Home theme, which is introduced fully at the end of the score. One of the first good tracks is the powerful, dark and fanfare like 'Jane is Kidnapped', which already unleashes some wonderful ideas and tricks. Yet, the first to unleash the magical thematic firework is 'Flight through Never Land', with an monumental display of John Williams' trademarks, sounding so true sometimes to the flying nature of E.T., but that is me but also the truth.

Further, we have several indications of temp music. Perhaps light but the names of Home Alone (track 4), Hook, Radio Flyer and Alive (7) and Who Framed Roger Rabbit (10) were flying briefly through my head. Sometimes light like in 7, the Hook sign came from several same bars of the 'When you're Alone' theme, but it was noticed by me nonetheless, which is just like me. At the end, the last 4 tracks are thematically driven and end the score well, but perhaps too late for some (like me which is typically me anyway). The heroic battle theme which was used in 10 shows up again duly noted in 'Jane Saves Tink and Pan' and the main theme in 'Jane can Fly', giving you again that wonderful flying feeling. The thing is, what keeps this score running is the fact that McNeely weaves so much themes through each other that each listen becomes interesting on its own. Sometimes too much to notice them all because they are so quickly driven by energy. The Home theme is reheard during 'Flying Home' in a wonderful ending version and a good climax is always welcomed during 'Reunion'. This is no bad score, in fact this is a good one. But one that suffers from the same things over and over again, the songs which are ordinary, the sing a long carols which do nothing right on disc and the sometimes overbearing animated Mickey Mouse nature that keeps you on edge. On the other hand, Return to Never Land is still recommended for many if they handle all that, and if they like a theme minded bag of tricks coming their way. And just like me, it can work as stimulating and fresh listening.

Score: ***
Songs: ***

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Do You Believe In Magic?: BBMAK (2.57)

2. Main Title * (2.07)

3. Second Star To The Right: Jonatha Brooks (1.56)

4. The Tale Of Pan * (1.43)

5. I'll Try: Jonatha Brooks (4.06)

6. Jane Is Kidnapped * (3.32)

7. A Childhood Lost * (2.34)

8. Here We Go Another Plan (0.23)

9. Summoning The Octopus / Pan Saves Jane * (2.40)

10. Flight Through Never Land * (2.40) Excellent Track

11. So To Be One Of Us (1.26)

12. Meet The Lost Boys * (1.13)

13. Now That You're One Of Us (0.36)

14. Longing For Home * (2.13)

15. Hook And The Lost Boys * (3.23)

16. Hook Deceives Jane * (2.55)

17. Jane Finds The Treasure * (1.58)

18. Pan Is Captured * (2.14)

19. I'll Try (Reprise): Jonatha Brooks (1.07)

20. Jane Saves Tink And Pan * (3.28)

21. Jane Can Fly * (2.35)

22. Flying Home * (3.28)

23. Reunion * (2.20)

* Soundtrack composed by Joel McNeely

Total Length: 53.47

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: Joel McNeely ===