Thankfully, Disney’s latest installment in the animated Tinker Bell series isn’t lacking the accessible and progressive social commentary like it used to, with Tinker Bell & The Pirate Fairy standing as one very well-crafted, cheeky, and inspired work of art aimed at imbuing young girls with something that has a bit more depth than your stock-standard ‘girl power’ message.
While not much has changed in the heavily stylised, barbie-doll look of Tinker Bell, what she stands for is now a far cry from the delicate sidekick she was in Peter Pan days. Tinker Bell (Mae Whitman) is now a pragmatic, highly capable problem-solver with a spirit that extends far beyond her original characterisation. The film’s other lead, Zarina (Christina Hendricks) is an unconventional thinker in the world of dreamlike Pixie Hollow, satisfying her deep scientific curiousity by experimenting with blue pixie dust in an effort to uncover more of its magical properties. The Pirate Fairy unfolds in such a way that is easy and enjoyable for pretty much anyone to watch. Hendricks especially brings the kind of personality to Zarina that makes her fascinating to follow, filling the character with a presence that drives the entire movie as she goes from being exiled to heading an unruly pirate crew, toeing the line between the film’s antagonist and an endearingly sympathetic, highly relatable, protagnist.
After Tinker Bell and her fellow fairies seek out Zarina, we are introduced to the film’s wild card – and a nice call-back to the aforementioned Peter Pan – cabin boy James Hook (Tom Middleton) who takes the film’s plot in unexpected directions, setting up an engaging sequence of events. Director Peggy Holmes manages to keep things interesting whenever they turn towards the bland, using big sequences and dazzling visuals to draw you into the unfolding action.
Perhaps one of the most entertaining sides of the film lies with Zarina’s prodigious alchemy, taking full advantage of her blue pixie dust know-how and morphing seemingly standard aspects of the film into plot-turning twists. While ideas here aren’t too innovative, the writers sprinkle enough on The Pirate Fairy to set it apart from previous entries as one of the most interesting Disney films in a long time, throwing in the occasional – and obligatory – burst of sharp, genuinely funny humour in good measures throughout.
Review Score: THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Running Time: 78 Minutes
Tinker Bell & The Pirate Fairy is currently screening in cinemas across the country
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