Why do people hate Finding Neverland

[Broadwaybound94]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 1:44pm

I saw Finding last night and really seemed to enjoy myself but was cautious going in because of so much negative reviews and comments. I feel it suceeded hit its type of audience  and I felt like I was a kid for 2 1/2 hours. I just don't understand all the negativity. It's not bad but it's also not the best thing I've seen. It's just a good time at the theater

[Pootie2]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 1:46pm

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1082309

 

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1085567

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 1:47pm

[Caitiecait92]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 2:01pm

I am too curious as to why people didn't like the show. I saw the show and absolutely loved it. I thought a majority of the musical numbers were well done, and amazing. Maybe I enjoyed it so much because I was able to relate to the story line and the message of the show. Of course everybody has the right to their own opinion and I have no right to judge.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 2:06pm

I loved the show when I saw the first preview, but when I went back for a return visit, I found the show to be pretty bad. I like some of the songs, but I think that overall the book and score are pretty weak. It's entertaining for sure, but it is a very flawed show.

[Sunny11]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 2:06pm

If that many people hated it it would have withered and died MONTHS ago. Instead Weinstine recently said that it still has a $ 6 million advance and it does well when the tourists are in town. 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 2:07pm

Go to 9:57...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJsqwXJSZ-U&list=PL_2Wk1WlmEyQbUXB2Pc5pDTkmP-BY6p_k&index=25

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 2:16pm

"I loved the show when I saw the first preview, but when I went back for a return visit, I found the show to be pretty bad. "

I genuinely don't understand this comment. Can you explain?

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 2:25pm

neonlightsxo said: ""I loved the show when I saw the first preview, but when I went back for a return visit, I found the show to be pretty bad. "

I genuinely don't understand this comment. Can you explain? "

The comment seems pretty self explanatory to me... have you never gone to see something with low expectations, loved it and then further returned with those high expectations that's weren't met? I sure have. 

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 2:25pm

I wouldn’t go so far as to say I hated it, but I was certainly disappointed. I felt like the subtlety and complications within this story were ignored in favor of what the creators thought would most please the absolutely base emotions of the audience. Instead of the show being written with the intention of telling this particular story in the best way possible, it felt slight and manipulative (the most pandering of jokes and scenes whose entire purpose seem to be to make the audience cry).
 

I also got the feeling, from their performances, that the actors felt the same way about the material. They seemed to simply be mailing it in (particularly Grammer). Morrison’s talent was clear, but this role gave him nothing to work with and it made me feel bad for him while he was onstage – something that, as an audience member, I don’t want to be thinking about/feeling.
 

On top of all this, I wasn’t even able to enjoy the show on a purely entertainment level, because I found myself, more often than not, bored by the show. There were a few great moments (the dancing during “All of London is Here Tonight,” the clever and beautiful stage picture of Slyvia’s dress flying in the air with the glitter), but those all felt extremely separate from the rest of the piece and were only the briefest of exciting moments.

Updated On: 10/14/15 at 02:25 PM

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 2:32pm

No, I can't say that I have seen a show more than once, and subsequently completely changed my opinion on it.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 2:46pm

GilmoreGirlO2 said: "...it felt slight and manipulative (the most pandering of jokes and scenes whose entire purpose seem to be to make the audience cry)."

 

THIS. Lord Brantley wrote in his review that the show "heightens the [film] screenplay’s sentimentality, tidy psychologizing and life-affirming messages by thickening their syrup and corn quotients."

 

My biggest problem (aside from being bored for 97% of the show) was that I found myself cringing after nearly every other line. Any venture into emotional complexity or depth in this show felt so calculated and disingenuous. The one thing I'll give this production credit for is Sylvia's glittery death. But one pretty scene does not a great show make. If this were the only thing running on Broadway right now, maybe I'd like it, but there are so many better productions to see than this trite thing.

Updated On: 10/14/15 at 02:46 PM

[c0113g3b0y]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 3:02pm

Because harvey whinestein and Diane clueless, I mean Paulus are such a potent combination 

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 3:11pm

Sunny11 said: "If that many people hated it it would have withered and died MONTHS ago. Instead Weinstine recently said that it still has a $ 6 million advance and it does well when the tourists are in town."

 

It's not a restaurant. The same people aren't going back again and again. Enough people think they WANT to see a Peter Pan musical, so they are. And, to be fair, many people can't afford to go to many shows (especially if they have kids), and if the kids enjoy it, they consider it a fun night out. 

 

That is a different audience than people who see nearly every musical and rank this against other shows and determine how well it executes on what it delivers.

[Sunny11]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 3:46pm

But audience word of mouth is vital for any show. Even tourists don't make decisions on what to see in a vacuum. they will listen to recommendations from friends and family or the hotel concierge. If the majority of people who saw Finding Neverland hated it sales should have dried up very quickly.

[Princeton Returns]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 3:51pm

For me it's one of the worst things I've seen. Some of the reasons why are

* The set is one of the ugliest I've ever seen. And for all the money thrown at it there's a lack of magic

* The songs are mostly  forgettable and I personally don't think a pop score suits the subject material

* The leads aren't that strong, Kelsey was there for cheap laughs. I hated the 'cheers' joke, completely takes you out of the moment. Matthew tries but isn't that strong an actor,  and LMK is just a bit bland

* The source material is such a beautiful and subtle film. This tries to be a disney style big blockbuster, and it doesn't suit the story. It's like it's fighting against itself

* The book is weak with the story not working or going anywhere for much of act 1. Plus the fairies joke feels so dated and borderline offensive. This is 2015, and broadway is still getting cheap laughs off gay stereotypes 

 

From the pub song in the 2nd act it does start to come together, but having been bored for the rest of the time it's too little too late. Also at the end with their budget you'd think they'd find a way to hide fans

 

[TerrenceIsTheMann]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 3:54pm

It's one of these shows where the general audience likes the show, although it is not critically acclaimed or liked on this board. Take a film like Transformers, for instance. It was very poorly made, got panned by critics, and was hated by people who are all about well made films. The general audience still liked it, and therefore it made money.

Updated On: 10/14/15 at 03:54 PM

[bfreak]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 3:58pm

Terrence, good explanation as to why people like and don't like Finding Neverland, but to my recollection I thought the movie Neighbors did in fact get good reviews. It currently holds a "fresh" 73% on Rotten Tomatoes.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 4:02pm

Forgot to mention that it's the first piece of theatre I've ever seen where I actively noticed how bad the choreography was. It was really just quite jarring and not pleasant to watch.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 4:02pm

[[duplicate post -- please delete]]

Updated On: 10/14/15 at 04:02 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 4:08pm

Sunny11 said: "But audience word of mouth is vital for any show. Even tourists don't make decisions on what to see in a vacuum. they will listen to recommendations from friends and family or the hotel concierge. If the majority of people who saw Finding Neverland hated it sales should have dried up very quickly."

 

I said families go and if the kids like it, they consider it a good night out. And if their friends ask them, they will say that. My family members with kids used to tell me a lot of movies were good, and then you'd go and wonder what made them say that, and they said the kids paid attention, a few jokes went over their heads and were for the adults... it's a completely different mindset.

[TerrenceIsTheMann]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 4:08pm

"I thought the movie Neighbors did in fact get good reviews. It currently holds a "fresh" 73% on Rotten Tomatoes."

I actually had no idea about Neighbors, just giving a random example of what I thought would be a critically panned film lol.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 4:10pm

The comment seems pretty self explanatory to me... have you never gone to see something with low expectations, loved it and then further returned with those high expectations that's weren't met? I sure have. 

 

GreasedLightning summed it up... I can't really explain it any other way. Some people have different reactions and feelings regarding shows after a second viewing.

 

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 4:20pm

"I loved the show when I saw the first preview, but when I went back for a return visit, I found the show to be pretty bad."
 

Exactly my experience too. I first saw it having read countless rotten reviews here on BWW. Got a decent seat to a matinee (6 rows from the stage 2 seats off the side aisle). Could tell the writing (and especially the lyrics) were dreck. The set was needlessly clunky and confusing. HOWEVER, the stage simply CAME ALIVE for me in the way that musical theater is meant to do, at regular enough intervals that I had a huge smile on my face by intermission, and tears by the curtain calls. Sequences I adored: the balloon dance in the park, the clockworks chase scene, the Act I finale creating the pirate ship, and of course the final scene with the mylar effect.

 

Fast forward 2 months-- joyfully bringing my hubby to the show I had so enjoyed. First disappointment-- both Kelsey Grammer AND Laura Michelle Kelly were out. And scene by scene my husband's grumbling negative response made me see the show in a new light as well. All the flaws, all the cringing jokes, all the groan-worthy lyrics were on horrible display. It's a show I've never recommended to anyone since. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/14/15 at 4:50pm

GreasedLightning said: "The comment seems pretty self explanatory to me... have you never gone to see something with low expectations, loved it and then further returned with those high expectations that's weren't met? I sure have."

 

This is why part of me thinks it is wise to stay away from a repeat visit to Something Rotten.